Nov. 30: FanRag’s Jon Heyman spoke to a source that stated Adams “won’t be with the Braves,” further indicating that the first baseman will either be traded or non-tendered by 8pm ET tomorrow evening.
Nov. 27: This Friday marks the deadline for MLB teams to tender contract offers to their arbitration-eligible players. Club will have until 8pm ET to agree to tender an offer or to non-tender such players, though the two sides will have roughly two months to work out an actual salary before arb hearings (if necessary) begin in February.
With that deadline looming, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports (via Twitter) that the Braves are “pushing Matt Adams” to other teams, hoping to secure a trade for a left-handed slugger who otherwise could represent a non-tender candidate in Atlanta (as MLBTR’s Jeff Todd noted in the Braves’ Offseason Outlook). Atlanta has Freddie Freeman entrenched at first base, despite a brief experiment at the hot corner, leaving Adams as something of an odd man out.
Atlanta acquired Adams, 29, from St. Louis this past May when Freeman went down with a broken wrist that would sideline him for two months. Adams’ initial production following the trade was nothing short of jaw-dropping, as he exploded with a .298/.348/.661 batting line and nine homers through his first 135 plate appearances in Atlanta. From that point forth, however, Adams posted a fairly meek .251/.291/.455 line and seven homers through 179 plate appearances — numbers that are much closer to his career batting line of .271/.315/.469.
In the end, Adams posted career-highs in both homers (20) and OPS (.841), but the knocks against him were the same as ever. The big lefty batted just .180/.206/.377 in 63 PAs against left-handed pitching and demonstrated again that he is limited to first-base/DH on the defensive spectrum. Both the Cardinals and Braves gave Adams a brief look in the outfield, but he turned in negative marks in both Defensive Runs Saved (-5) and Ultimate Zone Rating (-0.7) in a small sample of 129 innings. His glovework at first base remained solid, but the market for first-base-only bats with significant platoon issues has become increasingly crowded in recent years as teams place greater emphasis on defensive versatility.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $4.6MM salary for Adams — not an exorbitant price to pay for an AL club seeking a cheap option at first base/DH. The Rays, Indians and Angels could all represent speculative landing spots for Adams, while the Rockies stand out as an NL club that could give him semi-regular at-bats at first base.
For teams that view Adams as a bench bat, however, committing $4MM+ to a defensively limited reserve option at this stage of the offseason is a tough sell. Mitch Moreland has a reputation as one of the game’s best defenders at first base and signed for a one-year, $5.5MM contract in Boston last winter, while Adam Lind, a player with a comparable skill set to Adams, settled for a one-year, $1.5MM pact with the Nationals in mid-February. Many teams would likely consider Adams a viable backup option behind their preferred offseason targets, but that won’t help him at this juncture of a slow-moving offseason, as the top targets for each of those clubs are all still in play.
If the NL adopted the DH rule this guy has a chance to play everyday
They should definitely adopt the DH so that marginal platoon guys get more ABs.
Yes, because we’d rather have totally ineffectual pitchers hitting.
Well why don’t you just make the ball oblong with points on two ends, make the field rectangular, and make everyone wear helmets?
It’s baseball. They are the rules. It’s how you play the game, at least in the NL. For those of us who think the game through, the pitchers spot is a much more fun dynamic.
And you could add every David Ortiz and Edgar Martinez up, and you still wouldn’t half half a Babe Ruth. And just when you think an old dead guy from the dead ball era is a fluke and could never happen again….in walks Oteni.
I’m not sold on him, but he MAY be able to do it….as long as you don’t specialize pitchers that far.
True. Ortiz and Martinez were almost certainly each better than Babe Ruth. And by 1920 Babe Ruth was done as a pitcher. His last season on the mound he walked more guys than he struck out.
There are plenty of slow pitch beer leagues around the country where these DH types could go play if they can’t learn to play defense.
David Ortiz made a living not playing defense in the American League (and yes, I realize that he was a significantly better hitter than Adams).
Adams is not that bad at 1st base. But he should never be in the OF!
If the NL had the DH, the Braves would probably use Kemp there instead of Adams, since moving him to full-time DH would be a better fit for him while also opening up a spot for Acuna.
And if outs counted as hits he would own the hit record.
Highly doubt that
I highly doubt that too…. not even a funny comment…
That would go to Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn actually drew tons of walks, didn’t make tons of outs. Career leaders in outs made are Rose, Yaz and Aaron. Single season leaders in most outs made are Omar Moreno 1980, Frank Taveras 1979 and Horace Clarke 1970. Jose Reyes in 2005 is tied for fourth all-time, and JJ Hardy’s 2012 is also in the top-10 most outs seasons of all time.
No let’s play real baseball still in the NL.
Please explain this argument that 1 single bad hitting pitcher in the lineup improves the game any?
Easy answer for you abgb123, game stratey. What to you do in an even score game or your team is down 1 run or two in the 6th inning. Your pitcher is lights out on the mound except for the unearned run(s) given up and is due to come up to the plate. you have runners at 1st and 2nd and 1 out. Do you bunt them over but have runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs? Do you pinch hit but lose your pitcher for the game? Makes the game a lot more interesting strategy wise. In the AL, not much strategy in the same situation because the pitcher will not be coming out. No pinch hitter most likely. Most likely no bunting involved either.
How often is that really an issue though? If you have a strong bullpen you pull your starter, if you have a weak bullpen you bunt and try to stretch your starter out.
I think a full lineup with 9 hitters can cause more match up concerns.
The scenario you suggest removes strategy. Either the manager is one who calls for a bunt in that situation or he isn’t. If he’s not he’s definitely pinch hitting there. He doesn’t have to consider how the pitcher is pitching. The move is made based on nothing more strategic than the pitcher doesn’t hit well.
With a DH, the pitcher is being pulled when the manager feels another pitcher is more likely to get outs.
Because bunting is so exciting…I get the strategy but bunts don’t really improve excitement
@Jhinde103
Its not the act of the bunt. Its the anticipation of is it executed to get the runner in scoring position. Then the excitement is there are 2 out. Man on second. Tie game with a real hitter at bat. Late innings. Game on the line. That is exciting
Amen to that. Pure baseball in the NL!!
Meh…if pitchers actually put the time into being a good hitter maybe. But seriously it’s awful watching the pitcher bat.
That’s not true. Plenty of NL pitchers do everything they can to learn to hit and some did it successfully in youth. Hitting is hard. That’s why the DH is a good thing. No risk of pitcher injuries or need for them to spend 20 hours a week on hitting. It’s also totally different muscle groups so no pitcher could ever put in the same amount of time to hitting as everyday players.
I think its an issue that there are different rules for both leauges. Theres nothing else like it in all of sports. No DH at all or DH everywhere is how it should be.
By that logic, all fields should have the same dimensions like Hockey, Basketball, and Football.
What’s special about baseball is that it’s different. You’ll never win me with that argumen
I see those at two totally separate things. Difference in field dimensions is across all 30 teams. Making it actually consistent variance across the MLB. Its not one league specific. Its not like all of the AL is consistent while the NL varies.
I don’t think it’s an issue at all. I think it’s what makes baseball unique. Also that each stadium has different dimensions makes baseball different than the other sports.
Or get rid of the dh all together and force 1 way players out of the game
It will never happen. Union won’t allow the loss of higher paying dh jobs. The NL will have a dh in the next five years.
That argument is often cited but is flawed. There would still be 25 players on a team. MLBPA doesn’t care what position they play. Nobody said,”Get rid of the DHs and don’t replace them.”
It is not a flawed argument the reason that MLBPA will never allow baseball to get rid of the DH is because those guys are pretty highly paid. If they removed the AL they would still have 25 players but the guy replacing the DH would be the 25the man on the team and would probably make league minimum that is why they will never allow the DH to go away.
Why does removing the DH mean you have to replace them with other players? You could argue that it would improve your position players and actually move a lower level guy to the bench, thus improving your bench. It would also force the current DH’s to improve their defense and not be so one dimensional.
I want the DH out of baseball all together as well it takes away roster spots from guys who work their arses off to get there just to have their spot taken by some guy who doesn’t even own a baseball mitt just can hit a dinger every now and again
The dh in the NL would ruin the game. It would take all strategy out of the NL. That’s why the NL is better
I’m sure Cleveland is kicking the tires on him……especially if Santana leaves.
While I agree that they should be looking into bring him in, we have such a lefty heavy lineup already.
We would have to pick up an additional right-handed 1b. This is not optimal, but I’m not sure what other option exists. We either pay someone full rate or platoon at 1b. By the way, this scenario would mean that Guyer is gone.
so this is a big ol’ duh
If I’m a GM, there’s no way I trade assets to get him. There’s too many talented 1B on the free agent market. Even if he’s indeed traded, I still have plenty of options. If he’s non-tendered, then I sign him. $4.6 million for Adams seems like a lot.
Too bad for the Braves that the market is flush with first basemen with skill sets very similar to Adams. Tribe may be interested, but I would think Adam Lind would be a better option. Adams best fit may be COL.
Adams is a better fielder and is younger. Both are platoon guys. They would probably save a little $ by trading for Adams. I wouldn’t think they would have to give up much.
Really, I don’t think it’ll take much for a team to acquire him. Probably a lottery-ticket kind of prospect at most.
Sure they would take an international prospect signed from the ‘15 or ‘16 class.
10/10
I think he fits in well in Tampa. He can play first/DH until Bauers gets called up.
Agreed. Bauers and Dickerson can handle left field ok too, so he has ABs; fit seems good.
Rockies could platoon him with Reynolds if they decide to resign him.
No surprise really. I doubt he gets traded before Friday though.
yeah and someone on here the other day said that the Braves should trade Freeman and use Adams at first. HA
While obviously a total drop in production, the return could be handsome.
What that poster said if I recall correctly was trade Freeman AND Kemp for Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. You’d use Adams at first for a season (with the hope Austin Riley would soon replace him), Use Acuna to replace Kemp’s spot and then expect Tucker to replace Markakis soon too. There was thought in that poster’s idea. I don’t think that the Astros would agree to that swap though.
That would be me… but you didn’t tell the whole scenario…I guess to make your post seem funny. Ha
My post was to trade Freeman & Matt Kemp to the Astros for 3B Alex Bregman and OF prospect Kyle Tucker.
Then we play Matt Adams at 1B. Actually as a platoon w/ Adonis Garcia
We also move Austin Riley to 1B in AAA
Bregman is our new 3B
Markakis moves to LF
Acuna takes the vacated OF spot of Kemp…but in RF
in 2019 Tucker will take over in LF & A. Riley will take over at 1B
WE save almost 40 million in payroll the next two years
no it wasn’t you actually. So calm down
and the Astros day f no
Astros would be idiots to make that kind of trade. #1 Kemp makes way to much money to be a DH when they can just keep gattis as DH and save money. #2 Astros has a much cheaper option at 1B. So why trade 2 of your top young players for more money on payroll and just to obtain Freeman for 1B and open a big hole at 3B?
Sure the Rays are a fit, but why trade? Adams has non-tender written all over him. Last year they waited and got a good year out of Morrison for 2.25M. The same thing applies to Adams.
Because he can decide to go somewhere else. Not sure Rays are top of his list, but he might not be a desired target for them either; who knows.
First person to say “reunion with the Cardinals?” gets tossed.
Reunion with the Springfield Cardinals?
Hes not worth anything while theres 10 just as good or better FAs available for just money
If the Braves non-tender him on Friday then their decision not to keep him on the 40-man a week ago made no sense. They have a full 40-man roster and, I’m guessing, left a player or two off of it that could get picked. If they cut him now they can’t add anyone to the 40-man to protect them.
The only argument in favor is that this gave them an extra week and a half to find a trade partner. But they should’ve known back then there wasn’t one willing to offer the equivalent of the player they’ll lose..
Matt Adams for international slot money. They can spend new slot money, right?
Legend has it Clayton Kershaw still wakes up middle of the night time to time after seeing this man in his nightmares
and then Kershaw looks over to Jansen who assures him it’s okay, and the two go back to bed.
So in your mind, Kershaw
and Jansen share a bed together? WoW!
Is this post referring to Adams as a slugger? He of the career high 20 HRs?
Cxcx — Please consider plate appearances. 20 HRs in 300 abs translates to 30-plus in 500 and, assuming of course, he would get that many at bats. But, Matt Adams can still be considered a “slugger”!
can someone please hurry and sign Maitan, we have a trade for you….
I heard Juan Yepez is available…
I’ll take a flyer on yepez friend! my softball team needs a 1st baseman without power
Would Adams be a Yankees target? Maybe as a DH type? I honestly don’t know too much about Adams but he’s a power hitter if I’m not mistaken?
Nah, Yankees already have a left handed hitting first baseman with some power in Greg Bird.
At this point I think it is unlikely that Adams by himself brings back more than a very low level prospect OR is dealt away for some other team’s roster bubble candidate.
send adams back to st louis for the brave prospect in the previous trade.
No reason for the Cards or anyone else to give up anyone. He will be non tendered then you can sign him for cheaper if you want him.
He’ll be nontendered
Matt Adams is the poor mans Chris Duncan.
Matt Adams is an option, a bench bat with limited impact in the field, I can’t imagine teams are lined up to acquire his services.
he’s a good defensive first baseman
With the Brewers having Brinson & Phillips coming soon & already have Broxton, Braun & Santana who would be expendable and what would it take for the Braves to snatch one up ?
Would Newcomb & Vizzy pull Broxton & Villar ???
The only way they get anything for Adams now is package him with some international signing money (which, as someone pointed out on the Jim Johnson thread, the Braves have but can’t spend).
Otherwise, he gone.
AA’s first move is getting rid of Johnson. Nice start!
Now get rid of Julio Teheran and Kemp!
Too bad, seems like since Frank Wren left the Braves make consistently bad decisions. Freeman is so injury prone, the Braves should trade him instead.
Seems like he’d be worth at least $6-7 on the open market. He has some upside beyond his production, and he won’t command a multi-year deal. Wouldn’t be surprised if they get a low-level lotto minor leaguer similar to the one they gave up in return. Should have moved him at the deadline, though. Return would have been better.
Matt Adams would hit near 50 dingers at Colorado with 550 ABs and probably average very near or over .300. Braves should trade Freeman instead and keep Adams. Freeman would bring back a TOR pitcher and 3b from many clubs. How about Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis and Adonis Garcia to Tampa for Chris Archer, Alex Colome and Evan Longoria. Or the same package to New York for Greg Bird or Tyler Austin, Sonny Gray and Chase Headley.
Also like a deal with Toronto with Freeman and Markakis going to the Blue Jays for Josh Donaldson and Marcus Stroman. The Mariners could take Freddie Freeman and Matt Kemp for Kyle Seager, Mike Leake and get Andrew Albers back.
Makes no sense to trade freeman for Donaldson. Unless your talking Sam Freeman. Freddie is younger and signed long term to a below market deal. He just hit his prime while Donaldson will must likely start the downward trend within 2yrs. Josh is also a FA in 2019. If Freddie didn’t get hurt last season he would have put up 40+ hr. I know Stroman is good but with all the pitchers the Braves have ready and/or close to ready, there is no reason to get older in the field. They will soon have plenty of cash to sign a significant starter or could trade for one.