Adames, 30, felt pain in his left elbow after sliding into home plate during Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He was diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his non-throwing arm.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
After receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his sprained left elbow Thursday, it was recommended that Adames allow his arm to rest for three to four weeks, according to MLB.com.
The Giants' final game is Sept. 27 at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Giants manager Tony Vitello understands the nature of Adames' injury could mean he's done for the year.
"If you're going to abide by that timeline, you just look at the calendar and see where that puts you," Vitello said. "He could press to come back the last week of the year, maybe, at best. I don't know how reasonable or realistic that is, but it's also somewhat pointless to talk about at this point because we'll have to see how that rest serves him."
With 28 games remaining in the season, the Adames injury allows the Giants to look at potential talent and further evaluate prospects.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Adames is in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract with San Francisco. He was owed $13.1 million this season. Starting next season, the Giants will have to shell out $31.1 million to Adames through 2031.
"We're going to get some looks at some younger players, and I think as much as anything, it's going to be an opportunity for us as a front office and a coaching staff to evaluate some of our players, and some of them are going to get some longer runways than they've had in the past," Posey said in a radio interview on 97.5 FM earlier this month.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
There's no postseason hopes in this disappointing season. But there's still much to play for. Posey is looking at what's in their control now and the Giants are looking "to build on what we do here these last couple months and into the future."
That assessment could include whether a player can upend Adames' role.
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorateJackie Robinson Dayduring the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates' Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder's hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
The Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team's all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone aftermaking his major-league debutin a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox's home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
Cleveland Guardians players warm up asthe launch of NASA's Artemis IIis shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
The Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before theOpening Daygame between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
1/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
1/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
2/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
3/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
4/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorateJackie Robinson Dayduring the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
5/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates' Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder's hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
6/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
7/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
8/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team's all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
9/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
10/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)
11/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone aftermaking his major-league debutin a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
12/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox's home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
13/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians players warm up asthe launch of NASA's Artemis IIis shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
14/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
15/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
16/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
17/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
18/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
19/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
20/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
21/21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before theOpening Daygame between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
With Adames' injury, the Giants will have to try and mix their group of infielders around to fill the position. San Francisco doesn't have another true shortstop.
The responsibility will likely fall to Osleivis Basabe, Christian Koss and Shay Whitcomb. Koss will likely get the first look, as he's lined up at shortstop the most between the three. Koss has appeared at shortstop in 13 games, Whitcomb twice and Basabe just once.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Could Willy Adames become DH?
Offensively, Adames could probably be the designated hitter if needed. But, with his down year, the Giants would be better off allowing him to recover and exploring other DH options.
"There's other guys that need to do that too and get some at-bats," Vitello said when asked if Adames could play DH.
Adames is hitting .230/.289/.424 with 21 home runs and a .713 OPS in 121 games.
Currently, the Giants have Bryce Eldridge in the mix, listed as the team's designated-hitter. Vitello and the Giants want to see him and other prospects continue to hit.
