There’s no question that the Philadelphia Phillies desperately need a right-handed bat this season. With Adolis García likely done for the year, Alec Bohm and Trea Turner both underperforming, and the rest of the bench options falling short, the hole in the lineup is obvious.
Still, as the trade deadline approaches, the Phillies have to be careful not to mortgage their future by overpaying for a rental or a questionable contract. Equally important is targeting the right player who fits both the roster and the defensive alignment.
Recently, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report floated a trade scenario connecting the Phillies to a San Francisco Giants infielder signed to a $182 million deal and the idea is thoroughly illogical. The player in question is shortstop Willy Adames, and bringing him in would be a serious misstep for Philadelphia.
Rymer himself acknowledged the oddity, writing, “Wildest landing spot: Philadelphia Phillies,” and clarifying that the proposal isn’t about swapping Turner for Adames in a bad-contract exchange. Instead, the suggestion has the Phillies acquiring Adames in a major trade and either sliding him to third base or shifting Turner to second or the outfield to accommodate him.
On the surface, given how poorly Philadelphia’s right-handed hitters have performed this year, Adames’ current .692 OPS and 96 OPS+ would technically represent an improvement over what they’re getting now.
But taking on the remaining seven years and $182 million on Adames’ contract through 2031 would be a catastrophic decision for the Phillies if they made that move this summer.
If Turner weren’t already locked in at shortstop, perhaps the Phillies could justify rolling the dice on Adames in a high-risk, high-reward deal, hoping he rediscovers the .794 OPS form he posted with the Brewers in 2024.
However, counting on that turnaround while Turner is still on the roster, with no clear everyday role for Adames either in the field or in the batting order, would be a glaring mistake.
If Philadelphia were ever to consider acquiring Adames on his current deal which is highly improbable it would make far more sense after the 2026 season, when Bohm departs via free agency, or after 2027, when Bryson Stott could also hit the open market.
But as things stand right now, the Phillies should have zero interest in Adames. The price tag is exorbitant, and the positional fit is nonsensical. Even though Rymer labels the Phillies the “wildest” possible destination, there’s simply no logical basis for this pairing.
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