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Cardinals search for lefthanded power leads to reunion with 'Big City' Adams
LOS ANGELES - As far back as spring training, the Cardinals front office acknowledged how right-leaning and right-heavy the team's outfield and bench was for the coming season. The officials would openly muse about wanting the kind of lefthanded bat for the bench that they once had.
Now they have him back.
In a waiver claim Tuesday with the Washington Nationals, the Cardinals claimed Matt Adams and were awarded his rights. The team announced the deal Tuesday afternoon after sources had confirmed the move to the Post-Dispatch that morning. Adams is scheduled to join the Cardinals on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, and he will immediately be the lefthanded deterrent the Cardinals have been looking to add since, well, they traded him away more than a year ago to Atlanta.
In part-time duty for the Nats this season, Adams, who turns 30 at the end of this month, hit .257 with a .510 slugging percentage and a .842 OPS. He had 18 home runs, 27 extra-base hits, and 48 RBIs for Washington in 249 at-bats. He played both first base and some outfield for the Nationals after signing with them before the start of spring training.
The Cardinals will owe the remaining salary on his one-year, $4-million deal, and there are no players going to the Nationals in return.
He'll be a free agent at season's end.
As the Nats have struggled, Adams has also slowed in the second half with a .155/.234/.328 slash line since the All-Star break.
Adams was drafted by the Cardinals in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft and played in the Cardinals organization for nine seasons, including 2012-17 in St. Louis. Known here by his "Big City" nickname, Adams hit one of the biggest home runs in Busch Stadium III history when he knocked out Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers with a three-run blast in the decisive fourth game of the 2014 National League division series.
The Cardinals traded Adams in May 2017 to the Braves for minor league infielder Yuan Jepez. The move was prompted by the lack of at-bats that Adams was receiving and the team's wish to free up a spot on the 40-man roster and acquire some talent in return.
Now they have him back.
In a waiver claim Tuesday with the Washington Nationals, the Cardinals claimed Matt Adams and were awarded his rights. The team announced the deal Tuesday afternoon after sources had confirmed the move to the Post-Dispatch that morning. Adams is scheduled to join the Cardinals on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, and he will immediately be the lefthanded deterrent the Cardinals have been looking to add since, well, they traded him away more than a year ago to Atlanta.
In part-time duty for the Nats this season, Adams, who turns 30 at the end of this month, hit .257 with a .510 slugging percentage and a .842 OPS. He had 18 home runs, 27 extra-base hits, and 48 RBIs for Washington in 249 at-bats. He played both first base and some outfield for the Nationals after signing with them before the start of spring training.
The Cardinals will owe the remaining salary on his one-year, $4-million deal, and there are no players going to the Nationals in return.
He'll be a free agent at season's end.
As the Nats have struggled, Adams has also slowed in the second half with a .155/.234/.328 slash line since the All-Star break.
Adams was drafted by the Cardinals in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft and played in the Cardinals organization for nine seasons, including 2012-17 in St. Louis. Known here by his "Big City" nickname, Adams hit one of the biggest home runs in Busch Stadium III history when he knocked out Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers with a three-run blast in the decisive fourth game of the 2014 National League division series.
The Cardinals traded Adams in May 2017 to the Braves for minor league infielder Yuan Jepez. The move was prompted by the lack of at-bats that Adams was receiving and the team's wish to free up a spot on the 40-man roster and acquire some talent in return.