Jeremiah
SAD NEWS:Why The Braves’ Offseason Pursuit of Willy Adames Might Be More Trouble Than Triumph.
Orlando Arcia had a pretty rough season for the Atlanta Braves in 2024. He returned from a career-best season in 2023, and replicating that success proved impossible. Arcia wasn’t the only Brave to regress offensively but the most glaring example.
This leaves Atlanta’s front office with a significant question to answer ahead of next season: Should Orlando Arcia be the starting shortstop in 2025?
Arcia ended 2024 with a .218 average and a 72 wRC+, which was the second-worst in baseball. This is not a great indicator for the Braves, despite Orlando’s great defense and costing just $2 million on the payroll.
However, there is an upgrade available via free agency, and that is Willy Adames. Adames had a good season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, and it will fetch him a pretty penny. His bat is noticeably better than Arcia but his defense lacks compared to Atlanta’s shortstop.
The Braves have been linked to Willy Adames in the past, so it isn’t hard to believe they’ll entertain the idea again. But does it make sense?
