The Boston Red Sox have bolstered their bullpen by signing right-hander Austin Adams to a minor-league deal, as reported by Ari Alexander of KPRC2. Adams previously played for the A’s after being acquired in a trade with the New York Mets just before the start of the season.
The Mets traded Adams due to a roster crunch, with the A’s compensating them with some cash. He made the Opening Day roster, finishing the 2024 season with a 1-2 record, a 3.92 ERA, and a 1.48 WHIP. Although his ERA was the best of his career in seasons where he pitched more than five innings, a closer look suggests there was some luck involved.
Adams had a 4.47 FIP and issued walks to 12% of the batters he faced. However, he managed to strike out 27.1% of hitters and was a significant contributor, serving as a bridge to Mason Miller for much of the season.
This will be Adams’ fifth team in four years, following his stints with the Washington Nationals from 2017-19, a trade to the Seattle Mariners, a move to the San Diego Padres in August 2020, and a brief period with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 before signing with the Mets for a few weeks. After that, he was traded to Oakland.
At 33 years old, Adams has excelled at preventing hard contact, averaging 85.1 miles per hour exit velocity against him last season (where the league average was 88.5). His figure for 2024 aligns well with his career averages.
Although Adams primarily used his slider in 2024 (at 73.8%), its usage was less than in previous seasons, where it was in the high 80s. With the A’s, he incorporated a four-seamer 23.9% of the time and experimented with a sinker in May, throwing 14 of his 19 sinkers for the year that month.
Adams is perhaps best remembered for his “OMG” celebration in New York after a big out, although that moment on August 13 was his last for the year, as he landed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis shortly after. At the end of the season, he was taken off the 40-man roster and chose free agency.
In the A’s clubhouse, Adams had a locker next to Miller and was regarded as a quirky personality, typical for a relief pitcher. Now, he serves as a depth option for the Red Sox as they strive to become contenders again, aiming for a winning record for the first time in four seasons.
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