Murphy doesn't expect Brewers to meet Adames' asking price
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy doesn't expect Willy Adames to return in 2025 due to the shortstop's high asking price in free agency.
"You see the numbers he's probably looking (for), and I don't think we're going to come up with that right now," Murphy said, according to Andrew Wagner of Forbes.
"That's not prudent for our group."
Adames is one of the top free agents available this winter after setting career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (112), steals (21) and games played (161). He was a key contributor for the NL Central-winning Brewers, who won 93 games but were eliminated in stunning fashion by the New York Mets in the NL wild-card series.
The 29-year-old said after the series that he'd be interested in returning to the Brewers, but Murphy indicated Sunday he's already looking into alternatives, including possibly moving Platinum Glove winner Brice Turang over from second base to shortstop.
Unsurprisingly, Pat Murphy said this afternoon that he doesn't expect the Brewers to retain Willy Adames.
— Jack Stern (@ByJackStern) November 10, 2024
Murphy indicated moving Brice Turang to shortstop is a possibility, but his inclination is to keep him at second base, where Turang just won the NL Platinum Glove Award.
Adames, who's reportedly willing to switch positions in the right situation, has recently been linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He received a qualifying offer from the Brewers, meaning they'll receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team in free agency.