Mariners' free agency plan could drastically shift after big Willy Adames update

While everyone waits with bated breath to see where Juan Soto will end up signing his record-breaking free agent deal, another star Dominican player is on a similar path to finding his forever home.

It's very possible Willy Adames may have wanted to stay with the Brewers, but general manager Matt Arnold seemed more lukewarm about the possibility, and further reports seem to indicate that the front office isn't going to compete very hard to retain him.

Potentially limited by the payroll situation in Milwaukee that tends to mirror Seattle's own, Adames is more than likely to depart the NL Central champs.

Because of the spending similarities between the two clubs, it would seem intuitive that the Mariners would be out of the running for one of this year's top free agents, especially with recent roster decisions eating away at an already limited budget.

However, new information may incentivize the M's front office to pursue Adames more heavily, if they weren't intending to already. In a recent interview, Adames stated that he would prefer to remain at shortstop but wouldn't be against changing positions for the right offer with the right team.

Mariners Rumors: Willy Adames could emerge as free agent target for Seattle

What would his new position be? It's hard to answer since Adames has played all but 77 innings of his seven-year major league career at shortstop. Then again, shortstops tend to shift to second or third base, which could actually be beneficial given his defensive struggles in 2024. But that then begs the question: how is he defining "the right team?"

In the interview, it seemed that he simply wants to join a competitive roster with a focus on seriously making a World Series run. If you're already jaded with how Seattle's front office has managed the roster over the past several years, this may be a factor that automatically eliminates the Mariners from his potential short list of candidates.

But let's try to look at the positives here. First, the positional flexibility allows the Mariners to look at Adames as a utility infielder who could fill two key infield roles. Second, the Mariners do have a competitive team with a great outfield and one of the best catchers in baseball. They haven't made the biggest splashes in free agency historically, but perhaps Adames could be the first to buck that trend.

Adames could already be heading for the West Coast with rumors swirling about a potential deal with the Giants, as well as the looming threat of the Dodgers continuing to add pieces to their superteam. Seattle seems like a clear underdog compared to those two and any other big market teams, but with the right moves and negotiation tactics, they could surprise fans with a major signing.

It'll probably cost them north of $150 million in total, but if ownership is being truthful about wanting to win, this would be a real step in the right direction as the Mariners desperately try to upgrade their offense.