The Atlanta Braves will be an intriguing team to watch this winter once free agency begins.
Atlanta has been in the news lately, mainly as people have wondered whether or not Max Fried will return to the club in free agency. He will be a free agent and one of the most coveted pitchers in baseball this winter.
He isn't the only player to watch out for, though. Atlanta has had question marks at shortstop since Dansby Swanson. Could the Braves look to spend on a shortstop in free agency this winter? The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the team is targeting Milwaukee Brewers slugger Willy Adames.
"Willy Adames, spiritual leader of Brew Crew, has been target of (Los Angeles Dodgers), Braves and (San Francisco Giants) in past, and they’re seen as among possible landing spots," Heyman said. "Brewers would love to keep him but understand he’s probably out of price range. LA, with (Andrew Friedman/Tampa Bay Rays) link, possible favorite?"
Adames was one of the best offensive shortstops in football in 2024. He is just 29 years old and had the best season of his career. Adames appeared in 161 games in the regular season and had 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.
He will be expensive, with a projected market value of $188 million over seven seasons, according to Spotrac. It's unclear if the Braves will bring him to town, but when an insider of Heyman's caliber puts out a report, it should be taken seriously.
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