Baseball is a game of strategy, skill, and perseverance. Every season, teams make moves to improve their rosters, whether by signing free agents, promoting prospects, or making trades.
In the middle of the 2021 season, the Milwaukee Brewers made a trade that surprised many baseball fans: they acquired shortstop Willy Adames from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for two of their young bullpen arms, J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen.
Adames had been a key player for the Rays, helping them reach the World Series in 2020, but he was struggling at the plate early in the 2021 season.
The Brewers, meanwhile, were in need of a reliable shortstop to solidify their infield defense. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how the Brewers acquired Willy Adames and the impact he had on their season.
Background on Willy Adames
Willy Adames was born on September 2, 1995, in the Dominican Republic. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent in 2012 when he was just 16 years old.
Adames quickly made his way up the Tigers’ minor league system, impressing with his defensive skills and offensive production. In 2014, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team deal that involved David Price going to the Tigers.
Adames made his major league debut with the Rays on May 22, 2018, against the Boston Red Sox. He started at shortstop and went 1-for-4 with a double in his first game.
Adames quickly became a regular in the Rays’ lineup, playing in 85 games in his rookie season and batting .278 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs. He also showed off his defensive prowess, making several highlight-reel plays at shortstop.
In the seasons leading up to the trade, Adames had established himself as a valuable player for the Rays. He continued to be a standout defensively, earning a reputation as one of the best defensive shortstops in the league.
Offensively, Adames had his ups and downs. He had a strong 2019 season, batting .254 with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, but struggled in the shortened 2020 season, batting just .259 with five home runs and 29 RBIs.
Adames got off to a slow start in 2021, batting just .197 in 41 games with the Rays before being traded to the Brewers.
The Trade
On May 21, 2021, the Brewers made a trade with the Rays that sent Willy Adames and pitcher Trevor Richards to Milwaukee in exchange for two young bullpen arms, J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen.
The trade was unexpected, as Adames had been a key player for the Rays in their run to the World Series in 2020. However, Adames had been struggling at the plate early in the 2021 season, and the Rays had a surplus of infielders.
The Brewers, meanwhile, were in need of a reliable shortstop to solidify their infield defense.
From the Brewers’ perspective, the trade made sense for a few reasons. First and foremost, Adames was a significant upgrade defensively at shortstop over their previous starter, Orlando Arcia.
Adames was known for his range, arm strength, and ability to make difficult plays look routine. Second, the Brewers were hoping that a change of scenery would help Adames at the plate.
They believed that Adames had the potential to be a productive hitter and that a fresh start with a new team could help him get back on track.
Finally, the Brewers were willing to part with two young bullpen arms because they felt they had depth in that area and that the trade would not significantly weaken their pitching staff.
The Rays had their own reasons for making the trade. While Adames was a valuable player for them, they had a surplus of infielders and were looking to create playing time for some of their younger players.
In addition, Adames had been struggling at the plate early in the season, and the Rays had a history of trading players when their value was low.
By trading Adames and Trevor Richards, the Rays were able to acquire two young pitchers with upside in J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. The Rays believed that they could develop these pitchers and that they would be valuable additions to their bullpen in the future.
Adames’ Impact on the Brewers
Willy Adames had an immediate impact on the Brewers’ infield defense following the trade. He quickly established himself as the team’s starting shortstop and proved to be an upgrade over the previous starter, Orlando Arcia.
Adames’ range, arm strength, and ability to make difficult plays helped solidify the Brewers’ infield defense. With Adames at shortstop, the Brewers had one of the best defensive infields in the league.
Adames also made important contributions at the plate for the Brewers. After a slow start to the season with the Rays, Adames found his swing in Milwaukee. In 70 games with the Brewers, he batted .288 with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, and an OPS of .876.
Adames’ offensive production was a key factor in the Brewers’ success down the stretch, as they battled for the NL Central title and secured a playoff berth.
Adames played a crucial role in the Brewers’ playoff run. In the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, Adames batted .389 with two home runs and four RBIs in the four-game series.
His two-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 4 helped the Brewers avoid elimination and force a Game 5. Although the Brewers ultimately lost the series, Adames’ clutch hitting and solid defense earned him praise from fans and analysts alike.
Adames’ impact on the Brewers in the second half of the season was undeniable, and he quickly became a fan favorite in Milwaukee.
The Brewers’ Acquisition of Willy Adames and Trevor Richards
| Key Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Trade Date | May 21, 2021 |
| Brewers Receive | Willy Adames, Trevor Richards |
| Rays Receive | J.P. Feyereisen, Drew Rasmussen |
| Adames’ Performance with Rays | Batting .197 with 5 HRs and 15 RBIs in 41 games |
| Adames’ Performance with Brewers | Batting .288 with 13 HRs and 50 RBIs in 70 games |
| Adames’ Impact on Defense | Improved infield defense, established as starting shortstop |
| Adames’ Offensive Contributions | Key offensive production down the stretch |
| Adames’ Role in Playoffs | Clutch hitting helped Brewers force Game 5 in NLDS |
| Richards’ Impact | Made some bullpen appearances but traded to Blue Jays in August |
| Brewers’ Perspective | Saw Adames as upgrade at shortstop and had depth in bullpen |
| Rays’ Perspective | Wanted to create playing time for younger infielders and acquire young pitching |
Faqs
Answer: When the Brewers acquired Adames, he was under team control through the 2024 season. The Brewers will have to decide whether to sign him to a long-term extension or go to arbitration with him in the coming years.
Answer: While J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen were promising young bullpen arms, the Brewers felt that they had depth in that area and that the trade would not significantly weaken their pitching staff. The trade ultimately worked out well for the Brewers, as Adames provided a significant upgrade defensively and made important contributions at the plate.
Answer: The Rays had a surplus of infielders and were looking to create playing time for some of their younger players. In addition, Adames had been struggling at the plate early in the season, and the Rays felt that they could acquire some valuable young pitchers in exchange for him.
Answer: Trevor Richards made some appearances out of the bullpen for the Brewers, but he did not have a significant impact on the team’s season. He was eventually traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in a separate trade in August.
Conclusion
The Brewers’ acquisition of Willy Adames and Trevor Richards in exchange for J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen was a significant move that had a positive impact on the team’s season.
Adames’ defensive abilities and offensive production were critical to the Brewers’ success down the stretch, and his clutch hitting in the playoffs helped keep their season alive.
While the trade was initially met with some skepticism, Adames quickly proved himself to be a valuable addition to the team.
The trade also highlights the importance of strong defense and reliable hitting in baseball, as well as the potential benefits of making strategic moves to address team needs.
Overall, the Brewers’ acquisition of Willy Adames was a smart move that paid off for the team and helped them make a deep playoff run.
