When Buster Posey took over baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants in late 2024, the mandate was clear: make the Giants relevant again.
Posey wasted little time swinging big. He helped orchestrate the blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers, signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract, and doubled down on veteran talent in hopes of accelerating the franchise back into contention.
Instead, the Giants find themselves near the rock bottom of the MLB standings and staring at a trade deadline that could force Posey to undo many of the moves that were supposed to revive the organization.
That reality is what makes ESPN insider Buster Olney’s proposed trade involving Adames and New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien so intriguing.
“Pure speculation, but worth exploring for the Mets and Giants: A deal involving Willy Adames and Marcus Semien,” Olney posted to x.com. “The Giants would have to eat a good chunk of money in Adames’s deal to make it happen, but Adames could play third, Bichette could move to second, and Semien would return to the Bay Area. SF has signaled a willingness to listen to offers for Adames, Chapman, Devers.”
Olney floated the possibility of San Francisco sending Adames to New York in exchange for Semien, with the Giants likely absorbing a significant portion of Adames’ remaining contract. At first glance, swapping one struggling veteran for another hardly seems like a solution.
Adames is batting just .233 with 13 home runs, while Semien has struggled even more, hitting .219 with nine homers, but has shown signs of turning things around
But for Posey, this trade would be less about production and entirely about acquiring the financial flexibility to fix this thorny mess.
The biggest issue facing the Giants isn’t Adames’ performance. It’s the five years and more than $150 million remaining on his backloaded contract after this season. Semien’s deal, while expensive, expires after the 2028 season, shortening San Francisco’s financial commitment by three years.
For a front office now facing the possibility of a broader reset, that matters.
Posey inherited a roster that had spent years stuck between rebuilding and contending. His response was aggressive, betting that established stars would accelerate the process.
Instead, the Giants are once again headed toward a disappointing finish and are reportedly open to moving on from players such as Adames, Devers, Matt Chapman and more.
Whether Olney’s proposal gains traction remains to be seen. But if Posey is serious about cleaning up the mess that followed his win-now approach, finding a way out from under the Adames contract may be one of the most important decisions he makes this summer.