MLB News: Dodgers, Mets, Others Could All Target Same Free Agent: Report - Newsweek

The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are battling it out on the field in the National League Championship Series, with a berth in the World Series at stake. The Dodgers currently lead the best-of-seven series three games to one, with Game 5 set for Friday at Citi Field.

In short order, the two teams could be battling it out off the field as well for the same free agent.

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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Dodgers and Mets are both possible suitors for Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, a pending free agent.

Heyman writes that "people around the league see the Dodgers as a possible favorite" to land Adames, who has "been a frequent trade target of the Dodgers, Braves and Giants" in the past.

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But Heyman also notes that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns acquired Adames when he was in charge in Milwaukee. If Stearns is interested in a reunion, it's not out of the question that the Mets could shift him to third base, and move Mark Vientos to first base if Pete Alonso leaves.

Alonso is also a free agent after this season.

Adames, 29, has never played third base in a major league career that began in 2018. Other than 10 games at second base as a rookie, he's spent his entire career at shortstop.

Adames collected MVP votes in 2021 after a midseason trade sent him from Tampa Bay to Milwaukee, and he hit 20 home runs in 99 games to end the season.

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Over four seasons (2021-24) in Milwaukee, Adames slashed .244/.323/.457 with 38 stolen bases in addition to his 107 home runs.

The 2024 season was his best. Adames hit 32 home runs, drove in 112, and stole 21 bases — all career-highs.

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The Dodgers are seen as the favorites because of a series of unexpected events in the last year that created a need at shortstop.

Gavin Lux was handed the position in spring training, then quickly shifted to second base when he failed to adapt to the position defensively after missing all of 2023 with a serious knee injury.

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Mookie Betts was the Dodgers' primary shortstop during the first half of the season and acquitted himself well in the field despite never playing shortstop regularly at the big league level.

But the Dodgers had more depth on the infield than in the outfield by the time Betts returned from a midseason hand injury. He's been the team's primary right fielder ever since; he has six Gold Glove awards at the position.

Tommy Edman, acquired in a midseason trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, is the obvious fallback option at shortstop if Adames signs with the Braves, Mets, Giants, or another team. But Edman can play center field as well and could pivot there in 2024 if the Dodgers indeed land Adames.

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J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers in California, J.P. covered MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Angels (occasionally of Anaheim) from 2012-23 for the Southern California News Group. His first book, The 50 Greatest Dodgers Games of All-Time, published in 2015. In 2016, he won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for breaking news coverage. He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.

J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers ...Read more