The Mets have signed right-hander Austin Adams to a one-year, major league deal, per a report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, it’s a non-guaranteed split contract, meaning Adams will earn different salaries if he’s in the majors or in the minors.
Adams, 33 in May, started the 2023 season with the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal. He had his contract selected in May and made 24 appearances for the club with an earned run average of 5.71. He likely deserved better than that, as he struck out 27.2% of batter faced while walking 9.9%. His .333 batting average on balls in play and 61.6% strand rate were both on the unlucky side of league average, leading to a 3.72 FIP and 3.72 SIERA.
After those 24 appearances, Adams suffered a fractured right ankle and landed on the 60-day injured list in August. The Diamondbacks outrighted him off the roster in November and Adams elected free agency, which allowed him to sign this deal with the Mets.
Over his big league career, which dates back to 2017, Adams has generally racked up strikeouts but also had serious control problems. He has punched out 33.1% of opponents faced while walking 14.6% of them. In 2021, his control problems reached absurd levels when he hit 24 batters with pitches in just 52 2/3 innings pitched. His 9.9% walk rate in 2023 was actually his career best, even though it was higher than the 9.5% league average for relievers on the year.
Adams is just shy of five years of service time, meaning the Mets can utilize him as part of their bullpen in 2024 and, if they so choose, retain him via arbitration for 2025. After the disappointment of 2023, the club has mostly kept themselves to small additions so far this winter, giving one-year deals to Luis Severino, Joey Wendle and now Adams.
The Mets traded away Dominic Leone and David Robertson from their bullpen during the 2023 season, then Adam Ottavino opted out of his deal. Adams can jump into the relief mix and improve the depth.
Who?
The HBP goat of course!
Boo-yah! Another Goodwill Outlet signing!
The Mets are killing it this offseason. Someone tell Stearns he isn’t with the Brewers anymore.
The Mets are killing ME this offseason!
I know, right. How does a 32 year old mediocre journeyman like this rate a ML deal? A minor league deal is all it should take. We already have his kind on the roster. Seems like Stearns was bidding against himself on this deal. Just because you open spots doesn’t mean you waste them on scrubs like this.
Yes I’m sure Stearns was bidding against himself, that definitely seems like the most likely scenario here. /s
How do you know what other teams offered Wendle? Since when did random commenters know the marketplace so well?
exactly
braves just signed a Pen Murfee to a major league for no reason
AA never does anything for “no reason”
@rols1026: Excellent point, especially given that LFGMets is even more ignorant than most of us on here.
You are dumb as hell. You are worrying about minor league deals or pennies to Steve cohen deals when all the guys we want are not signed yet. You think it matters that they pay adams 850000? No guarantee he even makes the team. Wendle is a way better hitter then Guillorme. Until the big fish the Mets are after sign elsewhere you are saying nothing
He sure did in Toronto. Remember Vernon Wells?
Never mind, I got the dates mixed up, but he didn’t do wonders for the Jays
I swear there are an awful lot of reactionary comments, just check the ERA and make a judgment. I remember watching Adams pitch with San Diego, and he’s a very interesting pitcher, throws a hard slider (high 80s mph) about 90% of the time. Batters know it’s coming and still can’t hit it, and he can put different shapes on it to keep them off balance. I’m sure when he’s got grip issues or just doesn’t have it, that’s where the high HBP and BB numbers come from. But when he was on he was nigh unhittable.
I think I remember reading something that Stearns likes to have different types of pitchers in his bullpen, so not surprised he targets a guy like Adams. I wouldn’t be surprised if he added a submariner type like whichever of the Rogers brothers pitches for SF from underneath, just to keep getting different looks to throw at the opposition.
@Trotski It’s less ‘different types’ since Adams is not making the team out of ST, than it is getting a bunch of guys who are going to pitch the last, worst 200-250 innings out of the bullpen. Go to the link, the Mets’ Baseball-reference page, sort the pitchers by ERA and unclick the qualifiers box at the top of the table.
The Mets used 15 pitchers whose ERAs are over 5.00. 13 of them were relievers. The idea of Adams is to keep those 13 relievers off the mound and replace them with relievers who can give you and ERA below 5.00—ideally below 4.50. Do that throughout your pitching staff and you pick up 3-5 wins over the course of the season.
That’s what Austin Adams is here for—to pitch the 30 innings in 2024 that the previous season went to clucks like Stephen Nogosek (25.2 IP, 5.61 ERA) or Jeff Brigham (37.2 IP, 5.26 ERA)
baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2023.shtml
@Bluebaron this guys got to be an undercover trying to make Mets fans look worse
When the article was first posted did it not say he was on a split deal where he gets paid less in the minors?
Still does, they haven’t updated the headline though.
Strikeouts galore… walks galore.
Sounds like Ottavino
Mets signing all the jobbers.
Throw ‘em against the wall and see who sticks.
Wow, 5.71 era, what was the point of this ?
Cause they don’t care about his ERA?
@jvent His 3.72 SIERA was the point of this.
The Mets will use something like 30 pitchers in 2024. (They used 35 in 2023.) Keeping truly bad pitchers who knock you out of games off the mound is essential, and Adams is better than the horrible relievers the Mets have been using at the butt end of August, guys like Stephen Nogosek, Denyi Reyes, Reed Garrett.
Their worst players in 2023 cost the Mets 9 games: their worst players put up negative 9 war. Replace those guys with replacement level (0.0 WAR) players like Adams, and to simplify the calculations the 75-87 Mets would tend to go 84-78 and make the postseason.
You guys do realize they had 12 open spots on their 40? Cant all be Yamamoto types
People are dumb
Another deal, another bum! Smh! Clueless as to why they are signing them to a ML deal with the exception of Severino whos signing makes sense for a year.
Because they have to fill out their roster and he’s cheap and has a history of high K rates? What exactly is the issue here? He’s not being signed to be their highest leverage reliever….
Mets sign overpriced Aces: Verlander, Scherzer.
Injury prone guys: Severino.
Or average era guys: Austin Adams.
Ahhh man The Mets truly are a pathetic franchise.
I honestly believe I can run that franchise better than the bafoons they have in charge.
The guy who signed Verlander and Scherzer isn’t even there anymore? What kind of take is this?
Okay so maybe they have a new guy in charge. But look at the signing he just made, pathetic. You can get that production from a replacement AAA player.
I feel bad for Mets fans reminds me of the Dodgers of the 90s and early 2000s sad times.
It’s sad to sign a high K reliever to a super cheap 1 year deal? Are you mental?
Well there’s yer problem, Rols1026 is okay with signing 6.00 ERA HIGH K guys.
That’s the kind of mediocrity that’s gonna get your team Lit up. When he’s not striking out guys of course ^_^.
Look at what the Dodgers, Braves, and Astros do and use them as a template for successful roster building, signings and trades.
Go Blue!
It’s a split contract you low IQ clown. Every team makes moves like this, including every team you mentioned. Get a clue
Except when we sign guys like this, they have a history of once being Aces.
Austin has a career 4.17 ERA.
What leads you believe he’s magically going to produce better results.
If it looks and talks like a Met it must be a Mets fan.
Lol I’m not a Mets fan. Nobody said anything about magically producing better results? It’s a split contract, basically the lowest risk you can take on a major leaguer. It’s not that deep
I cannot believe what the Mets and Stearns are doing!! Four signings and NONE of them can help a team that finished a light year behind the Braves. These players are fodder and our roster is horrendous right now.
Shadow and George, y’all do realize it’s early and the good players are still out there. No one else is signing them yet either. Things haven’t stated to heat up yet. Have some patience.
You’re talking to walls, friend. And purported fan who doesn’t grasp the point of signing Austin Adams simply isn’t interested in the game.
Adams had an above average FIP in 2023 and 2021
@I’m the biggest Troll And in 2019, and an average FIP in 2020. In fact his FIP is only bad in seasons of 1 and 2 innings. Otherwise he’s at least acceptable at the back end of a bullpen.
No one hopes for more than 30 innings from Adams, but he has some incredible K numbers. If Stearns is stockpiling guys like Adams instead of guys like Nogosek and Denyi Reyes, more power to him—at least it suggests we have the first Mets GM since Cashen who understands the importance of keeping bad players off the field as much as possible, something Alderson and Eppler were clueless about. The worst Mets (I think there were 20 or 21 of them in 2023) who put up negative war combined for a total of negative 9.0 bWAR. The Mets went 75-87. Replace the negative contributors with replacement level (0.0 WAR) players, and you have an 84-78 team that ties for the last postseason slot.
Better than signing a career 5.00 FIP pitcher in Martinez for over 10 million
No idea why you’re referencing Nick Martinez or his career FIP. His stats from pre 2022 are irrelevant…. No idea why you’re including them
Because they’re still his stats… how are they irrelevant? Did he change his approach?
By the way, this guy had a decent season in terms of FIP, which was in fact better than Martinez’s FIP by .20 points in 2023
Ummm yes he went to Japan and learned a new grip for his changeup which is his best pitch? He’s not even remotely the same pitcher as he was in 2017 and before? It’s beyond irrelevant
Not when this guy here, who you say was not worth the investment, had a better FIP in 2023 than Martinez. Lots of relevance if you care to think on it.
I have nothing against Adams (other then his wildness) so I’m not sure what point you’re making
I’m basically saying I thought this was the better deal if it’s under 10 million. Reds overpaid, this one is not so bad it seems by stats, despite unhappy Mets fans
Where did I say he wasn’t worth the investment?? You might wanna try reading better….
Lol of course it’s under $10 mil this guy is worth 1-2 mil tops. He’s not anywhere near as valuable as Martinez
Cora – padres fans saw AA and then 2 years of NM. If you just would know when to learn from someone that knows.
If that doesn’t work for you – look up how much NM has made in last 2 years verses AA and just ask yourself, “I wonder why AA wasn’t making all of those millions. He led the league with 24 HBP in ONLY 52 innings! He sucks. He has less WAR value in his career than NM had in about 1/2 of 2023 alone That is why.
FIP shows otherwise, they’re actually pretty close if you look at 2023 stats for FIP. And you told me everything before is irrelevant, so let’s hold the same standard for both. This guy had a better FIP
I may have misread, my apologies. You attacked me like a bulldog. Big difference between misreading and reading better, but you wouldn’t care because you just want to attack and accuse from what I read.
He had a better FIP than NM… WAR is fluky for pitchers, especially relievers… FIP tells the better story.
I was told anything before 2023 was irrelevant… you didn’t hear that from me, I’m just preaching the choir.
He may be better, fine, but 16 million f9r a relief pitcher who had one solid season and an FIP near 4 is a pot. They could have dumpster dove and found cheaper options.
Where is anyone attacking anyone?? Your comments are all over the place dude are you ok?
Dude Martinez is joining their rotation. Your takes are all over the place! I’m not sure you even know who you’re responding to…
You basing Austin adams solely on his 2023 FIP. Over 17 innings? Dude….. you have to be trolling at this point
It’s apples to oranges, though. Nick Martinez had a 3.45 ERA/4.17 FIP since coming back from Japan over 216.2 IP, with an 8.9% BB rate and 22.1% K rate. He was also reportedly signed as a starter, which is going go command a much different rate than a reliever.
Adams has pitched only 114.1 innings over his entire career, with comparable run prevention metrics (career 4.17 ERA/3.80 FIP), and while he strikes out more guys (33.1%) he also walks a ton more (14.5% – and that number doesn’t include the 31 HBP he’s allowed in those innings.)
Adams has a much smaller sample size to pull from and has only one season under his belt with more than 32 IP – when he threw 52.2 and also led the league in hit batters. They’re two completely different types of pitchers and comparing the deals just doesn’t make a ton of sense.
Exactly Danzig. I have no idea what this guy is talking about. I’m thinking he might be trolling cause his comments are an absolute mess
Cora – check NM’s starting stats for the past 2 years after his return with new pitch, etc.
Not just a reliever. The fact that you think that is why you are having such a hard time with people trying to educate you.
Your FIP analysis isn’t comparing apples to apples as NM starts about 1/2 of his innings. Well I might add.
I’m responding to more than one person who is refuting me, and I’m still getting more likes. Not that it matters, but it’s worth mentioning since you’re brutally responding with personal attacks and asking if I’m okay. It’s a forum, dude. I know what I’m saying but you seem to pick out one side of what I say and then make it sound like I know nothing.
My one take is the Reds overspend for their pitcher. Seemed like an overpay to me. This deal doesn’t seem bad comparatively. FIPs aren’t drastically different but Reds could have found a much cheaper option. This was my take from the beginning
I’m not sure Adam’s is everything after one season that’s good. 3.92 FIP isn’t bad but it’s not elite either.
Adams had a 3.89 FIP in 21 with nearly 60 innings… pick your poison. Oh wait, you only look at last year’s stats..
You said I can’t read and then you’re asking if I’m okay? Sounds like a personal attack to me. Maybe not direct, but heavily implied.
If you make a living out of bulldog attacks in a forum without actually listening to a valid point or showing compassion, more power to you. Not how I want to spend my days, that’s for sure.
It does make sense to compare when you are strictly talking about money. Reds overpaid. That was the premise of my whole argument. He just wanted to go and and say a bunch more… similar talent, albeit different sample sizes… Reds overpaid. This deal looks better.
He doesn’t look great as a starter, maybe a 3 or 4. FIP in the 4’s, though I honestly thought he was in relief.
Dude you don’t have the first clue what you’re talking about…. Why are you comparing Austin Adams who’s had one full season in his career to Nick Martinez who’s going to be a starting pitcher? I’m literally convinced you’re trolling cause your comments don’t make any sort of sense? I’m asking if you’re ok cause you’re all over the map and not making a lick of sense…. And you talk about listening to a valid point, you somehow completely missed when I explained how Martinez went to Japan and changed his pitch mix…. Meaning his stats in 2017 and before are irrelevant…. Yet somehow you can’t understand simple points like this? I’m convinced you’re either trolling or reading like 25% of the comments you’re responding to
Dude just admit you’ve never seen any of these guys pitch and don’t know anything about them other than their FIPs. Just bizarre takes with every new comment
Cora NM is def a 3/4 guy but you know at 13 mil, that is a bargain.
FIP isn’t the only stat so don’t get locked in to one any more than you criticize other stats. They all have their warts if you look close enough – a good mix of a few various key stats gives a better complete picture.
“Brutally responding with personal attacks”. Ok where?? Saying your takes are all over the place and asking if you’re ok isn’t a personal attack. My lord….
I cant even keep up….. multiple people have explained why comparing Nick Martinez and Austin Adams is pointless. You ignored it. Multiple people explained how looking at Austin Adams 2023 FIP in a 17 inning sample size is meaningless…. You ignored it. Multiple people explained why Martinez’ pre 2022 stats were irrelevant. You ignored it. You said as long as this deal is under $10 mil it’s a good deal??? Austin Adams for $9 mil is a good deal? Smh just admit you don’t know what you’re talking about…. You just keep spewing the same nonsense over and over like a robot…
“It does make sense to compare when you are strictly talking about money” I’m sorry what?? This doesn’t even mean anything? Wow this was an absolute wild ride….
I’m the biggest troll here, bud, you’re right about that. But I can’t keep up either, so you’re muted. You just point fingers at me and don’t even want to be nice about it, so goodbye. I’ve got a life, I don’t need to be harassed on here for my viewpoint.
I still stand by what I say. The deal was an overpay for Nick Martinez. This one isn’t. I like the Mets deal far better. Plain and simple.
I think the issue that folks are having is less with your opinion on the Martinez deal and more with how it has any correlation to the Mets signing Austin Adams to a glorified MiLB deal to be their 7th or 8th best reliever – like I said, it’s literally an apples and oranges type of comparison if you consider that the Reds are planning on using Martinez as a back of the rotation SP or swingman. If this was the comments section under the Luis Severino post, I think it would be more appropriate, considering that they both have the same AAV and are both seemingly set for similar roles.
I’d also argue that the Martinez deal is more or less fine value considering what he’s done since coming back from Japan. He’s thrown 216.2 IP in San Diego with that 3.45 ERA/4.17 FIP split, along with that 8.9% walk rate and 22.1% K-rate. His numbers line up very well with Ross Stripling’s last 2 years before he hit free agency – Stripling threw 235.2 innings with a 3.78 ERA/4.02 FIP in Toronto, with a slightly better walk rate (5.2%) and slightly worse K-rate (21.2%). Stripling was signed by the Giants to be a starter/swingman type at the exact same age that Martinez is currently, and he signed for 2/$25M with an opt-out after the first year – an almost identical contract to what Martinez just signed in Cincinnati.
Yes. He changed his approach.
While he was in Japan for 4 years he added and subtracted pitches. Began throwing far fewer FB, got rid of his slider, added a cutter, increased the usage of his curveball and changeup. He learned how to shape and sequence his pitches. He also increased his FB velocity by 2 MPH.
When he came back from Japan he was a totally different pitcher.
He had 17 IP. Are you really trying to make a judgement on effectiveness on 17 IP?
17 IP. Since you are repeating that BS, let me repeat this, 17 IP. In case you really don’t get it, let me say it one more time, Adams had 17 IP.
I think its fair to mute you too Troll.
By the way, I used the premise of money for anyone who wants to show dissent.
Call me a troll, call me dumb, call me out for not reading (even though I’ve read every post against mine), who cares. When all is said and done, the Reds still overpaid for Nick Martinez while this guy is not.
I like this deal better… how is that such a hard concept for people to understand? FIP aside (which Nick Martinez’s is nothing special anyway), this deal I felt was a better gain for the money paid.
Yes, I’m still the biggest troll on here, who’s ignorant and doesn’t read. People seem to call me out on that with side attacks (and yes, those are personal).
I don’t care where Martinez pitches- bullpen or rotation, still an overpay IMO for a Reds team that shouldn’t really be risking away money.
And honestly, if you truly think I’m wrong and uneducated, it would be right to educate me rather than be an @$$ about it (this is targeted to multiple people).
If I get banned for this, screw it. People starting to piss me off here.
What on earth are you talking about dude….. you’re trolling for sure. I just explained for the third time everything you’re missing and why that comparison between martinez and adams makes no sense and is completely irrelevant. It’s apples to oranges. Multiple other people have said this too. Yet you just keep responding with the same comments that make absolutely no sense? Comparing a $26 mil deal for a starting pitcher with a split contract for a guy who might not throw a single pitch in the majors? This is the most confusing string of comments I’ve read in a very long time
You literally said if the deal was for less than $10 mil it would be a good deal and better than martinez. Like there’s just no way that’s a serious comment?
Lol you’re the only here one being a clown. You claim victim only after MULTIPLE people explained why you were wrong. You completely
Ignored it and plowed on with your crazy takes. And then can’t understand why people are frustrated when you’re ignoring everything that was said. Legitimately one of the most confusing conversations I’ve had in a long time.
The fact that you’re only now open to being “educated” after the amount of comments educating you just proves this was all a troll job. Has to be
And the fact that people want to still reply to every one of my posts after I block them, just to have an upper hand in the matter shows that they really just want to fight.
I thought my argument was pointless? But you keep going after it because I keep getting notifications. I must be really making an impact on you somehow (without even caring anymore).
Get a life. I’m done here.
While the Mets offseason may change still. The beginning of it sure has the vision of a rebuilding team.
Stearn’s made his bones in Milwaukee turning journeyman bums into gold
How dare the Mets sign a reliever with good stuff they think can be a useful arm? They should have done what they always did and wait until February to sign random spring training invites to fill out the bullpen, right! That’s what they did last year and the year before and the Franks dragged the org over the coals. Now they do the opposite and identify a guy they want and get him early and it’s still wrong. Guess they should have signed Martinez for 10mil a year(x2 due to cap penalties) to satisfy Joey from Floral Park.
Adams can be a decent 7th inning guy with a few tweaks, this is a really good signing for the price.
What is the price? I don’t see it.
Fire Bear stearns and bring back ineppler! At least Eppler was bringing in prospects. All Stearns has done is bring in a starter with a 6.65 ERA, a reliever with a 5.71 ERA, and a shortstop with a .248 OBP! 3 of those worst players in baseball last season. Is Stearns trying to re-create the plot of Major League ? He’s had his chance to turn things around. Stearns must go.
Someone has no clue what buying low means
Well you aren’t getting Tim Anderson on a cheap split contract like these other guys…. So that comparison is irrelevant. Adams has shown a strong ability to miss bats. If he can add ANY control he could be very solid.
Looking at raw stats will give you a skewed representation of each signed. Thus why people like us aren’t paid to construct Major League teams. That is all.
I’m glad I read the comments. I had no idea that the offseason ended today and no other moves could be made going forward.
The Long Island loudmouths surely know better than David Stearns. I mean just look at their track record
At this point I would just give the Mets the trophy….They have earned it merely with these amazing signings.
A lot of Monday night quarterbacks not knowing how a team is put together…
Complaining about filling roster spots with depth pieces before the Winter Meetings have even started… No, you guys are right, the big stars alwayssss sign before the WM’s…
*”what are the Mets doing?!?!?!”* Emotion and passion getting in the way or critical thinking. Relax, everything will be okie. Daddy Cohen’s behinddddd you.
10 million?
Why did they trade for Trevor Gott only to nontender him and sign this guy instead? Gott would have been a better use of a roster spot than this guy.
My goodness. Stearns is even worse than Brodie, ineptler, the drunk and the the sleezebag porter. Cohen just can’t get this team together. This is beyond pathetic already. So basically this whole thing will be blown up by the time cohen promised they would be ready to compete and then he brings another clown in to “rebuild”. It’s clear cohen doesn’t have a clue about the game.
Nothing wrong with this given there’s no obligation to bring him up, and assuming the MLB portion is close to the minimum. He’ll give them 30 innings when everyone else is hurt.
Hey, it’s a he!! of a lot better than having Stephen Nogosek as your fallback position.
Signing Austin Adams I know two things he’s going to strike out 25% of guys and allow a run 67% of the times he’s in the game.
6 ERA/ 9 IP = .67 ERA per IP.
That’s terrible production.
@shadow banned — I think you think you know more than you know. As stated in the article, his 61% strand rate smacks of bad luck/sequencing, plus it was 17 innings. Look at his 2021 with SD, he had a 4.10 ERA and 3.89 FIP in 52 IP, I’m not calling him the closer of the future, but he’s clearly more of a 4 ERA pitcher than a 6.
Another way to look at it is to scan his game log. Last year he pitched in 24 games, and gave up 8 of his 11 runs in 3 of them, while he put up a zero in 18 of his appearances. The average is what the average is, but it shows that in small samples just 2 or 3 bad outings can really move the numbers.
That makes sense, if they can limit those ugly outings he should return as a decent bullpen piece.
Has a wicked slider, but hits about every 3rd or 4th batter he faces.
Dude throws hard and plunks a lot of batters.
Reasonably good depth/low leverage bp innings eater signing with little financial impact and risk. Gotta love how every time a team makes a signing like this you get the uh…less than deep thinkers around here complaining that their teams fo aren’t doing enough.
Every team makes signings like this every year yall. Let’s all take a deep breath and remember that impact players take longer to sign a lot of the time because they have more demand for their services. Negotiations with multiple teams take longer to reach an outcome folks. If your teams fo hasn’t filled key needs by spring training and/or when the impact names at the position are all off the board/traded to other clubs, that’s the time to complain like this.
This is the accurate take here. This is a little-to-no risk signing of a guy that has some solid upside as a middle reliever. The Mets have like a dozen empty roster spots. I don’t understand all of these critical comments of a very minor signing of a potentially decent relief pitcher for a team that needs pitching.
@HBan22 Not to mention the truly bad relievers the Mets used plenty of in 2023. The Mets used 37 pitchers last season—more than half of them had ERAs over 4.50. Most of the criminals were relievers. Replace those miscreants with guys with career ERAs of 4.17 (Adams career ERA, as it happens), and you win significantly more games..
The Mets had about 580 innings from pitchers with ERAs over 4.50. Replace them all with Austin Adams clones and you save roughly 70 runs. That puts the Mets in the hunt for the last wild card, would have kept them close all season, would have made them buyers at the deadline, and not sellers.
They would have been in the 2023 postseason, almost certainly. That’s what guys like Austin Adams can do for a team like the Mets.
Jesus man the takes on this site are bananas. It’s not even December yet. Take a Xanax and relax.
Jesus man the takes on this site are bananas. It’s not even December yet. Take a Xanax and relax.
The guy throws 90% sliders with so much movement even he doesn’t know where they are going