So far this offseason, every Red Sox move has been pitching-focused. That continued with a depth addition Sunday.
Boston has agreed to a minor league contract with veteran right-handed reliever Austin Adams, a source confirmed. The deal includes an invite to major league spring training but won’t guarantee Adams a 40-man roster spot. According to KPRC’s Ari Alexander, who first reported the agreement, Adams’ contract would be worth $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster.
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Adams, 33, is a veteran of eight big league seasons and has pitched in 188 games with five different teams since debuting in 2017. Most recently, the Florida native spent 2024 with the Athletics, pitching to a 3.92 ERA (and 4.47 FIP) while striking out 53 batters and walking 23 in 41 ⅓ innings. Adams throws his slider nearly 75% of the time, which has led to a high walk rate throughout his career. In the zone, he’s pretty effective as hitters have batted just .199 against him throughout his career.
Adams will compete for a mid-innings role in Fort Myers and, if he doesn’t make the team, likely provide a depth option at Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox, after signing veteran lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson earlier in the offseason and and trading Cam Booser to the White Sox on Saturday, have remade part of their relief mix since the end of the year. Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten project to be the two right-handers used in high-leverage situations late in games; Adams will join Luis Guerrero, Zack Kelly, Garrett Whitlock, Greg Weissert and Josh Winckowski as other right-handed options who should be in the mix.
Adams owns a career .4.10 ERA in 155 ⅔ innings with the Nationals (2017-19), Mariners (2019), Padres (2020-22), Diamondbacks (2023) and A’s (2024). He was an eighth-round pick out of the University of South Florida by the Angels in 2012.
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