The star shortstop is reportedly open to moving from the position this winter.
The Mets have reportedly reached out to free agent shortstop Willy Adames as they explore numerous avenues to improve the team this offseason. Jon Heyman previously reported that Adames is open to switching positions this offseason, which would obviously need to happen for him to join the Mets, while Michael Mayer noted that the club has reached out, according to his sources.
Adames, whom David Stearns acquired via trade from the Rays in 2021 while he was with the Brewers, is coming off arguably his best major league season. The 29-year-old, who enters the market as one of the most coveted free agents position players, played a career-high 161 games in 2024 and slashed .251/.331/.462 with a 119 wRC+ and a career-best 4.8 fWAR in leading Milwaukee to the National League Central title. In the process, he set career highs in doubles (33), home runs (32), runs batted in (119), and runs scored (93). It’s worth noting that, while he mentioned his interest in switching positions, he has played all but 77 innings of his big league career at short (he played those innings at second base for Tampa Bay in 2018).
It appears second base and third base would be the logical options should Adames land in New York. On the former, that would likely mean Jeff McNeil would move to the outfield or even open up trade possibilities for the former batting champion. On the latter, that would likely mean that Mark Vientos would either shift to first base (in the event Pete Alonso departs) or potentially DH.
It is worth mentioning that Jon Morosi does not believe Adames will need to switch positions given the interest in him from clubs in need of a shortstop, including the Dodgers, the Giants, the Braves, and the Red Sox. Morosi also thinks he could sign before Juan Soto, given that their markets do not seem to overlap.