SAN FRANCISCO -- Going forward, Willy Adames and Buster Posey will have several ties binding them in Giants history.
When Adames agreed to a seven-year, $182 million pact to join San Francisco, it marked Posey's first big move in his role as the club's president of baseball operations. Not only that, but Adames' deal is the largest contract in Giants history, eclipsing none other than the nine-year, $167 million extension Posey inked in 2013.
Introduced as a member of the Giants on Thursday at Oracle Park, Adames noted another connection he hopes to share with Posey.
"Hopefully, we can win a few championships, like you did," Adames said, turning to Posey. "That's one of the main reasons I'm here."
Donning an orange and black jersey for the first time with No. 2 on his back -- the same number as Derek Jeter, whom Adames said was his idol -- the Giants' new shortstop expressed his confidence in Posey's vision for the Giants, which was a big part of why he wanted to come to San Francisco.
The feeling was mutual. Adames brings an excellent track record as a defender -- although he took a step back in that regard in 2024 -- and should provide a reliable middle-of-the-order bat with power. The Giants were further convinced that Adames was their guy when they learned about the person behind the player.
"[Adames' former manager] Craig Counsell, I read, said that he's a 'unique connector of people,'" Posey said. "That really struck me, because I think to win championships, you have to have personalities like Willy, that they're able to identify with everybody in the clubhouse, and that's not just players.
"I heard from multiple people that Willy treats everybody with the utmost respect. He plays with energy, he plays with joy and I know that our fans are going to just be thrilled to watch him compete on a daily basis."
The Giants may have one of the best left sides of the infield for years to come, as Adames joins Matt Chapman, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner at third base whom San Francisco extended on a six-year, $151 million deal in September.
"I'm really excited to play along his side and pick his brain, and just learn from him and try to help each other," Adames said of Chapman. "I think we could lead this young group of guys to be professional, to be [great guys] in the clubhouse and just to go out there and compete every day. And if you have guys like that in the clubhouse, you're going to be winning, for sure."
San Francisco hasn't had much stability at shortstop since the days of Brandon Crawford, whose last season with the Giants came in 2023 before he announced his retirement after a stint with the Cardinals in '24. The long-term solution was once thought to be former top prospect Marco Luciano, who struggled defensively at the position and has yet to have an extended period to establish consistency at the plate in the Majors.
Coming off a season in which he set career highs with 32 homers, 112 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, Adames may provide even more value with his durability. The 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic played in 161 games in 2024 and doesn't want to take any days off in '25.
"If he lets me," Adames said with a laugh, referring to his new manager, Bob Melvin.
"Every team wants a Willy Adames on their team," Melvin said. "I think the thing that strikes me the most is when I'd watch him play a couple times a year on the other side … he never looked like he had a bad day. It always looked like it was Opening Day for him."
In addition to his belief in the direction of the organization, Adames shared his enthusiasm to be in San Francisco. In recent years, there has been a narrative that free agents don't have a positive perception of the city, leading to the Giants missing out on signing top players.
Adames hopes that a winning era of Giants baseball can help change that perception -- and Posey has seen firsthand how championships can impact the City by the Bay.
"This is a baseball town," Posey said. "This city wants great players. It wants great teams. I was lucky to be a part of some of those great teams alongside great players. And all is well in the world when the Giants are playing good baseball, in my opinion."