The San Francisco Giants’ signing of shortstop Willy Adames greatly strengthens their infield. However, it may also limit opportunities for several young infielders within the organization, potentially leading to trades.
Players such as Casey Schmitt, David Villar, and Brett Wisely could be among those on the move.
Young SF Giants infielders could be traded due to Adames signing
After the Giants signed Adames, president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed that 2024 breakout rookie Tyler Fitzgerald would transition to second base in 2025, moving from his shortstop position.
Fitzgerald became the starting shortstop in 2024 after a strong performance with the bat during the summer, posting a .280/.334/.497 slash line with 15 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. While his defense was acceptable, it was clear he was out of position and would likely benefit from playing second base, which is less demanding.
With third base covered by Matt Chapman, shortstop by Willy Adames, and second base by Fitzgerald, the question arises: where does that leave Schmitt, Villar, and Wisely?
Schmitt and Wisely both saw significant playing time in 2024. Wisely played a lot of shortstop due to injuries and did well offensively early in the season before cooling off, finishing with a .238/.278/.345 line, 4 home runs, and 31 RBIs. Schmitt had the opposite experience—struggling early on but heating up late in the season, hitting six home runs in 107 at-bats and showing strong defense.
Villar, who was demoted to the minors in 2023 after starting as the third baseman, has power, as evidenced by his 22 home runs in Triple-A in 2022. However, he’s struggled to replicate that success in the majors, despite a strong finish to 2022 that earned him a starting role the following season.
Both Villar and Wisely have experience at first base, but the Giants already have Wilmer Flores and LaMonte Wade Jr. there, and top prospect Bryce Eldridge is also waiting for a chance.
The Giants still need infield depth for the bench, and both Schmitt and Wisely could make the Opening Day roster due to their solid performances last season and their ability to play multiple infield positions. There’s also a chance one of them could take Fitzgerald’s second-base job if he struggles in 2025. Fitzgerald’s bat cooled off significantly late last season, so either Schmitt or Wisely could surpass him by the end of the year.
If Fitzgerald is solid in 2025 and the infield stays healthy, the Giants may look to trade Schmitt, who could be appealing to teams with his strong arm and offensive upside. Villar, with his power, could also be a potential reclamation project for other teams. Wisely would be an attractive, versatile option, known for doing the small things well.
For now, the Giants are likely to hold onto these young infielders for depth, but if the infield situation solidifies next season, don’t be surprised if they trade one or more of their infielders, especially with the Adames signing potentially blocking their roles.
Be the first to comment