The next player that should receive a contract extension by the Milwaukee Brewers is not so obvious.
The Milwaukee Brewers‘ 2021 season ended faster than they had hoped, as they were eliminated in the Divisional Round by the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves. In 2022, the team is looking to not only win the Central Division title for the second consecutive year, but also win their first World Series title in franchise history.
After this season, the Brewers have 12 players set to hit free agency, such as Lorenzo Cain. But when it comes to which player Milwaukee needs to consider offering a contract extension, one candidate should be to shortstop Willy Adames.
Brewers next extension candidate isn’t so obvious
Adames spent the beginning of his major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays, who acquired him from the Detroit Tigers in a trade. Making his debut in 2018, Adames was part of the Tampa Bay teams that made it to the Division Series in 2019 and won the American League pennant in 2020.
But in the second month of the 2021 season, the Brewers acquired Adames and pitcher Trevor Richards from the Rays in exchange for relief pitchers J.P Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. The trade proved to be more than worthwhile for the Brewers.
Adames played in 99 regular-season games for Milwaukee, and he put up some solid numbers. At the plate, Adames slashed .285/.366/.521 while recording 20 home runs (third-most on team), 58 RBI (third-most), 61 runs scored (fifth-most) and 104 hits (fourth-most).
At the end of the year, Adames ended up on the NL MVP ballot, finishing 16th.
For Milwaukee, they will not have to worry about Adames hitting free agency until the conclusion of the 2024 season. Adames is subject to arbitration for the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
Of course, that is all contingent on Adames having an equally productive year in 2022 like he did in 2021.