The Los Angeles Dodgers started the year with Mookie Betts playing shortstop. However, with him back in right field the Dodgers need consistent offensive production from the position.
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames will be a free agent this offseason, and insider Jon Heyman views the Dodgers as the team most likely to land him.
"Andrew Friedman in charge in L.A has that link to Adames through the Rays when he was with the Rays, so I'm going to say L.A's probably the favorite there," said Heyman.
Adames began his big league career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. He was the Rays top prospect in 2017, according to MLB Pipeline. Friedman was the general manager of the Rays in 2014 when the team acquired Adames from the Detroit Tigers.
Adames will have many teams trying to sign him after a career year. He set career highs in home runs, RBIs and steals. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told reporters that the Brewers will try to sign Adames, but other teams have deeper pockets.
"I think the free-agent contract is going to be very valuable for him and quite high," Attanasio told reporters. "We'll do what we can to stretch, but others have bigger pocketbooks and, we'll see what happens."
Adames is a fan favorite in Milwaukee and completely changed the culture when the team traded for him in 2021. However, he has set himself up for a big payday and may have played himself out of the Brewers price range.
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