The Braves announced Thursday that they’ve released veteran first baseman Matt Adams. He was designated for assignment over the weekend when Atlanta acquired left-hander Tommy Milone from the Orioles.
Adams, 32, had a solid showing with the Braves in 2017 but returned with an ugly .184/.216/.347 slash in 51 plate appearances this season. The big slugger has long been a thorn in the side of right-handed pitching and long struggled against lefties. Between that and a defensive profile that limits him to first base (plus the occasional adventure in left field), Adams’ role has been that of a bench player for much of his time in the big leagues. He did provide some pop off the bench for the World Champion Nationals in 2019, slugging 20 big flies, but he also posted a lowly .276 on-base percentage.
Overall, Adams is a career .259/.307/.467 hitter in 2574 trips to the plate. Those numbers improve to .270/.322/.486 when you subtract his 452 unsightly plate appearances against lefties. A team looking for some thump off the bench could certainly pick Adams up and give him a look over the season’s final few weeks.
When is it time to DFA Robbie Erlin?
Starting a GoFundMe so they can DFA Ender Inciarte without financial obligation, search “Rally Ender”.
I’m sure as soon as Newcomb or Folty come back. AA said they were almost ready.
Might as well put Folty back in. He can’t do any worse then Erlin. I’m shocked someone didn’t claim Folty.
His contract was significant money in a short year where every team is facing significant financial losses. Even though we now know he didn’t keep in shape during the season suspension; at the time all we knew is that he looked significantly thinner and lost a lot on his fastball. If the Braves decided they were going to cut him, no chance another team was going to take the risk that he might have been injured. It wasn’t like he had a bad start and the Braves just gave up on him.
It’s time an NPB/KBO team sign him
Or the Pirates
I think Peart was suggesting that Adams should go to a professional team.
Hahahhha thats funny.
That just means you don’t know what a professional team is.
Neither do the Pirates.
yea they do. thats what they aspire to be
Remember how valuable Adams was, and how any team could use a guy with such skills! He’s now released, again, after putting up an OPS+ of 45 in 51 plate appearances… remind me again what a great lefty off the bench he can be for any team that needs one. I’m not even saying no one should ever pick him up on a minor league deal but so many kept insisting what a great addition he’d be on any teams bench or even in the starting lineup… was crazy then and it’s crazy now
2019 wasn’t good, but in 2018 he had 20 HR in 265 ABs vs. RHP for a .242/.316/.494.
That’s a lot of pop for a platoon split. You could definitely do worse for a late-inning sub vs. RHP, but he didn’t replicate that after 2018.
But players age. I’m judging him on who is is now, not two years ago. And yes, if a teams last puzzle piece is a left handed pinch hitter from whom they expect nothing else, fine. Take a chance. But there were many fans eagerly penciling him into their starting lineups. He’s a first base only guy, so doesn’t even fit on most benches.
I think Matt Adams is little like Brock Holt and the Braves Charlie Culberson. For some reason their popularity exceeds their production so much that they kind of get a cult following.
From what I’ve noticed, you really only have to do one thing well to make it on some team benches. The one thing Adams was able to do well is give you a hail mary shot at the game with the long ball and that was as early as last year so it’s not like he was batting THIS bad since way back.
I think it is just because they do exactly what they’re asked, and when they have some success it is typically late in games…So, fans tend to see them in a greater light than reality suggests…
Ehh, it is sort of like how fans overvalue their favorite team’s prospects, or how there is always one or two UDFAs in football and said rookie is that team’s future stud player…lol It is just a part of being an irrational fan, and just a part of the fun..
Culberson has a ridiculous run when he first came to the Braves. His clutch stats that first year were far above his career norms and far above what most late inning replacement types have ever done for the Braves. So he was a cult hero that year … that and he looked like a Swanson clone.
He has trended back to his norm the last couple of years, possibly due to a really bad injury, but we are probably seeing his normal stat line now. Still, as bf88 said, he is doing exactly what the Braves ask of him .. able to play any position well, not be a total chump at the plate, and is huge for team chemistry.
Adams, well, he stopped doing what was asked of him last year. He is just not a threat at the plate any longer and his defense cannot make up for that.
Why does it feel like he was hitting way better than .184?…I’ve watched every game and he had some timely hits…maybe I’m wrong
He will make a stop at the Brewers sometime this year lol
It’s just because typically his hits were timely when they did come, but they were few and far between..He did have a couple game-winning/game-tieing hits for what it is worth this season..
TC article said his strikeout rate was 35% with a -0.5 WAR. It may be time to hang up the cleats.
This is just one of many move the Braves need or should have already made. Next comes Ender. He has to go… if you aren’t willing to trade your prospects because they are too talented, then you need to play them at this point…. call Pache back up, I highly down he’s worse than Ender!!! Let Kyle Wright keep trying to figure it out or Wilson, idc but stop pitching Erlin… he has no upside and isnt pitching well! I mean for freaking real, let’s go!!!
Money is still a factor for the Braves, they can’t eat 13+ million to just DFA Inciarte, he has 5+ years of service time he gets his money regardless. Wright will take Erlin’s 28 man spot? Folty takes Erlin’s 40 man spot, and Ynoa’s 28 man spot. Lineup needs to be
Acuña-CF
Swanson-SS
Freeman-1B
Ozuna-DH
Markakis- RF
DArnaud-C or Riley-3B
Riley-3B
Duvall-LF
Albies/Camargo-2B or Flowers when he plays.
Rotation
Fried
Anderson
Wright
Anderson
Opener- then Tomlin.
New acquired Tommy Milone has to slot in as well in the rotation. Tomlin moves to the bullpen.
Hard for Anderson to start 2 out of 5
It’s 1925 again.
They can literally eat it. I mean, put him on the bench for all I care, but he has to stop playing today.
He obviously thinks pretty high of the youngster, or he is of the Nolan Ryan rubber arm mindset…Just throw him out there until it falls off
But okay, all lame jokes aside, he quite clearly meant Milone and then Folty should be in that 5th spot instead of an opener..As long as he has regained his weight and velo..
Reports are indicating that he is back up to 95MPH on his FB, so he isnt far off..That’s slot better than his 90-91MPH he was at right before he got DFA’d
There is nothing wrong with Ynoa, the Braves actually LOVE his arm, and he is a very talented, young, and versatile pitcher..
Inciarte won’t be cut, rather he’s a candidate to be dealt in a bad contract swap for a pitcher. Perhaps something like Ender ($9 million owed) for Cueto ($27 million owed) with the Giants sending a significant chunk of cash back to balance it out.
Assuming Markakis re-ups on another one-year deal the outfield mix can feature Acuña, Markakis, Duvall, Waters, Pache, Riley, and hopefully Ozuna. That’s a terrific and cheap mix overall.
Ozuna will be gone after this year. With the season he’s having someone will give him a 3 year contract. Braves will cheap out. Besides next year it will be Acuña/Pache/and Waters after they can get a extra year control over him.
Oh I am very much aware Ozuna is going to be playing elsewhere next season. It’s a shame that we’ll likely hear about his poor defense and the Braves not wanting to invest in a player they view as DH-only or something.
Shame because he’s been great for Atlanta both on the field and seemingly in the clubhouse similar to Donaldson last season.
I’m of the same thought. If they wouldn’t deal one of those young OF prospects for Clevinger, which would have filled their biggest need, they’re counting them in the plan.
I expect they’ll look to add a moderately priced SP on a 1 or 2 yr deal, and maybe a 3B depending on how Riley goes from here on.
are there no live chats this week?
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dKIDS7A_cm4
Back to the Nationals?
Adams, 32, had a solid showing with the Braves in 2017 but returned with an ugly .184/.216/.347 slash in 51 plate appearances this season.
No spring training, 51 AB’s – hardly a lot of AB’s, irregular AB’s, a pinch hit, or a game here and there, and what do you expect him to do? Do you know how hard it is to get that timing and get in the groove. I think it is very tough, but then again that’s baseball. If Adams wants to play he should find a club where he can get regular AB”s, whether that’s another MLB club, an independent club, or maybe KBO next year.
If he’s not on a roster, there is no reason for Adams to limit his McDonalds order to 8 Big Macs anymore
He’ll end up a Blue Jay.