Dodgers will be in the mix for Willy Adames’ high-priced free agency

People around the league see the Dodgers as a possible favorite to land star free-agent shortstop Willy Adames. Dodgers bigwigs Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes had him at Tampa Bay. 

Adames has been a frequent trade target of the Dodgers, Braves and Giants, and Atlanta also could use him now, but with a $200 million-plus price tag, he might be pricey for them (they let their own longtime SS Dansby Swanson go for $177M to the Cubs). 

Adames could also could play third base, so he could also fit the Blue Jays and others. 

Mets baseball prez David Stearns acquired Adames for Milwaukee. Could they use him at third, and move Mark Vientos to first base if Pete Alonso leaves?

Tommy Edman is ably playing shortstop for the Dodgers, but one scout said he’s “really a center fielder.” Edman also is one of three impactful deadline pickups for LA, who also landed talented reliever Michael Kopech plus Game 1 NLCS starter Jack Flaherty. 

This is Dave Roberts’ finest work. They have a veritable All-Star rotation out (Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan and River Ryan) and one who didn’t pitch to his level (Bobby Miller). Yet, Roberts and Co. are piecing it together using three starters also all impacted by aches: Flaherty (back), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) and Walker Buehler (Tommy John).

Roberts averages a best-in-history 102 wins, he’s 6-2 in winner-take-all games and he won a World Series (yes, 2020 counts). He deserves a long extension, not to have his name mentioned among hot-seat candidate.