The Red Sox have signed right-hander Austin Adams to a minor league deal, KPRC’s Ari Alexander reports. Adams will receive an invite to Boston’s big league spring camp, and his contract contains over $1.5MM in bonuses based on appearances at the MLB level.
Should Adams indeed cash in on those bonuses, it should bring his salary fairly close to the $1.7MM that MLBTR projected as his arbitration salary in 2025, though the Athletics outrighted him at season’s end in what was essentially an early non-tender. Though $1.7MM isn’t a big sum even for the A’s, Adams’ 12% walk rate was on the high side, even though he had a 3.92 ERA and 27.7% strikeout rate over 41 1/3 innings out of the Athletics’ bullpen.
These numbers are pretty close to a match to the 4.10 ERA, 31.6% strikeout rate, and 13.9% walk rate Adams has posted in his 155 2/3 innings in the Show. His control problems also manifested themselves in a league-leading 24 batters hit by pitches in 2021.
Adams has appeared in each of the last eight Major League seasons, ranging from cups of coffee (two appearances in each of the 2018 and 2022) to larger workloads, like this past season in Oakland or his career high of 52 2/3 innings with the 2021 Padres. Adams has seen action with five different teams at the big league level, including a three-year stint in San Diego from 2020-22 that was shortened by a flexor tendon surgery that cost him almost all of the 2022 campaign.
The Sox will become the latest team to see if they can fix the 33-year-old’s control and get his slider-heavy arsenal to deliver more consistent results at the big league level. Adams’ strikeout potential is clearly evident, and even beyond the hidden-gem potential, he can bring some value to Boston’s bullpen even if he only replicates his overall decent 2024 results. At the cost of just a minor league contract, there’s no risk for the Red Sox in letting Adams compete for a job in spring camp.
Kk 4
Inb4 full throttle
Poolhalljunkies
Save it ..there is a ton of unsigned talent out there and a gm not signing minors depth options isnt doing his job
JoeBrady
A lot of RS will not like an acquisition unless it is someone they have heard of, and a lot of the fans never hear of anyone not in the MLB-R top 50 FAs.
Kk 4
That was my point
Uncle Pedro’s Dancing Kittens
While I really want to see some significant moves, this seems like a smart depth move. You can never have too many arms in the minors who can fill in when needed.
Fever Pitch Guy
KK – This isn’t news, it’s not worth commenting on.
What they should write about is the latest from Loomer, he showed a promo for the Mexico series and the top 4 Sox players (Abreu, Devers, Houck, Duran) plus Bello & Rafaela (Latinos) were featured ….. Casas was conspicuously missing. Loomer is positive it’s a message that Casas probably won’t be with the team in late March.
This is a major bummer, if Casas was surrounded by the proper structure and support he wouldn’t be alienating everyone. I blame Cora, Fatso and the Sox front office.
luckyh
I’d rather keep Abreu than Casas though. They have to give to get.
sirius.c
Who Fatso? Hilarious either way.. hahaha
DirtyWater04
To be fair it could be just as likely that they just figured Casas would not have much name recognition to move the needle with Mexican fans. He’s played about a season and a half worth of ball spread over 3 calendar years and hasn’t been a fixture on the international circuit (he played the 2020 Olympics in Japan yes, but hasn’t been in a WBC, wasn’t a LIDOM regular as a prospect, etc.) and the Red Sox have not been very good during his tenure either. It’s not crazy to believe that he was left off because he is just too anonymous still to those who aren’t die hard Red Sox fans.
MLB also announced a month ago that both the Mexico and the Puerto Rico series planned for next year have been canceled, so it could also just be that they weren’t done doing all the marketing materials yet but just stopped working on them as the deal started to fall apart.
Poolhalljunkies
Fpg…thats reading alot into omission..not saying you are incorrect in your assumptions casas and any perceived alienation but i dont see why there is a need to toss around blame and point fingers for something that to this point is all speculation, rumor and alledged trade offers that never came to fruition
Fever Pitch Guy
Pool – Why are you attributing it to me? Like I said, Loomer is the one who pointed it out and said it’s a sign. He’s been talking about Casas a lot, pointing out that all of his teammates are not happy with how he approaches the game (we heard that already though).
I respect Loomer a lot, he’s knowledgeable and intelligent and straightforward. He’s also indirectly an FSG employee so it sure seems like FSG is using him to turn fans against Casas and therefore the fans will be happy if he’s traded. This is a tactic the front office has used many, many times such as with Mookie, Xander, etc.
Loomer is right all the time. Remember a week or two ago he said if the Sox don’t sign Burnes then they will have no leverage with trades? He was spot on, and with the Crochet trade the ChiSox took advantage of Boston’s desperation. Loomer knows all.
sirius.c
I think Casas rubbed the who team the wrong way with how he handled his rehab/coming back… And apostles also rubbed them the wrong way with the Netflix series (something about following the cameraman around and forcing his way into scenes, things like that). Maybe something to it all (and maybe not)
Occams_hairbrush
If you block that crazy troll, things get better.
Poolhalljunkies
Fpg My mistake ..take out the word “you” insert loomer..the rest stands..its assumption. Opinion etc ..nothing more so might be best to wait on the post mortem till something happens in.my opinion but you are of course free to share in any assumptions you wish.
Ol Scotty boy
It’s just so exciting being a Red Sox fan these days. I can’t wait for the next signing. The hot stove is heating up! Ok! Ok! Ok! The season doesn’t start until the spring. Nobody has won the offseason yet. Not even the Mets. Hey Breslow! Please throw us a bone. Sheesh!
G.M. Ima Scapegoat
Just tune into NESN, everything will be fine.
-J.Henry
Occams_hairbrush
Red Sox are gonna be good this year.
BEISBALL
wow,,after 6 years of mediocrity the red sox are all in
Poolhalljunkies
You should do stand up comedy…you have talent
deweybelongsinthehall
Every team makes moves like this, this time of season. No big deal. Hopefully the Sox line up so much competition that the last roster spots are actually earned.
BEISBALL
no money left for the redsox, lord henry will not spend money on the team, his liverpool team is first in england at the moment they will need some money to make some signings to win the league and make big profit, over there
FatChance65
The Red Sox have The Enforcer, Double A in the fold. Here we come!
fba0017
Yes, depth pieces are needed we all agree. But can w agree Breslow is Bloom 2.0. He doesn’t have what successful GM’s have to go all out for anything.
Shoman5
Just traded 4 solid farm hands for top end pitcher. He’s letting the market play out a bit.
ibuititnoonecame
Says you to the rest of us we see another offseason of not spending money to compete
ibuititnoonecame
He is bloom he is doing what Henry allows and told both to do
chemfinancing
Here is who the Star Athletics are not signing
Kidding Right?
These takes are so predictable and inane. This is about as funny as telling the same “hysterical” joke to your brother four times a day. We get it, you’re here to read about big splash acquisitions; high end free agency signings, big trades.
In the meantime, the Red Sox have a AAA squad in Worcester that needs 28 players. Every team invites 20-30 non-roster players to spring training, on a tryout basis, and winter is the time of year when all MLB teams sign marginal talent, so they can get an exclusive look at a possible under-the-radar spare part.
Some of these marginal guys stick on the AAA roster, as prospective injury replacements for the major league squad, some troll in obscurity as the below average talent that fills the holes in every team’s minor leagues, and many of these guys are released, before the season, during the season, or get thrown into trades, to make the dollars work.
Unlike the GM candidates on this site, the GMs who actually get paid a salary make these spare parts deals all season long. The 25 man roster is just one of their many concerns.
It is long past time that “full throttle”, “all in” and all the other brainless comments were considered clever; now you’re just an unthinking troll who responds to every Red Sox piece that doesn’t describe a major acquisition with the most tiresome possible comment.
At least change the wording around, huh?
ibuititnoonecame
Thanks dad
Kidding Right?
You’re welcome, son. Mom says “come down for dinner”
ibuititnoonecame
How do you know, you are still living In gramas basement eating cheese puffs
sirius.c
Going to my room without dinner, sorry dad…
whyhayzee
I like that he hits a lot of batters. Put him in against the Yankees. Let’s go.
Salvi
Start the Waaahmbulance.
ibuititnoonecame
Thank god we have an owner that cares and opens up his wallet….. John you are joke and we demand you sell this team before you make it any worse.
alan.kawadler@verizon.net 2
And we thought, corbin, burns was the target ace pitcher the sox were going after. I can see how austin adams will be a better choice. $$$.
Kidding Right?
Reading is fundamental.
THE RED SOX HAVE SIGNED AUSTIN ADAMS TO MINORS CONTRACT
In related news, Julius Noah has signed Mario Betoni to play Third Guy Who Enters Convenience Store in Captain America: Brave New World. Let’s react to that
Fever Pitch Guy
Kidding- With all due respect, I could easily list several players the Sox signed to minor league contracts and ended up pitching for the Sox.
That’s what they do, cycle players in and out on a weekly basis. Hopefully MLB will implement a minimum games rule.
william-2
Before anyone starts, I know this guy is depth. I know that because very few teams would have this type of guy on an MLB pitching staff unless they had to. So, I understand why they sign depth pieces but……….
I am not sure why we constantly insist on adding science experiment fringe pitchers with poor control to our bullpen year after year.
The single worst thing a reliever can do is come in and walk hitters or run hitters counts over and over. Why acquire pitchers that you can be assured will give up free runners in most of their outings.
Kidding Right?
Then you also understand why MLB teams sign guys with fringe talent to the MINOR LEAGUES
DirtyWater04
Have you ever watched a baseball game in your life? If so you might be able to figure out what he’s saying is that he would prefer fringe/marginal guys who might have less impressive “stuff” but can throw strikes with what they have. They will get hit around at times, sure, but a lot more balls in play become outs than walks do, wouldn’t you agree?
El Kabong
All hail the HBP king. The Sawx should give Adams a bonus every time he hits a batter. Double the bonus when he plunks a Yankee.
energel
wow 42 hit batsmen in 113 ip, I would be terrified if i was hitting against adams
ghostofmookiebetts
He should be banned from the mound if he’s hit that many. Really it’s irresponsible and dangerous.
GaryRedSoxxWarriors
Well, as Goose Gossage used to say,
“I have no idea where the ball is going after I let it go.”
Yankeesforever
Oh Boy.!
Standings after the first game of the 2025 season
Team W L GB
Yankee 1 0 –
Orioles 1 0 –
Blue Jay 0 1 1
Tampa 0 1 1
Red Sox 0 1 2026
BostonDave
What good is depth if the depth is no good. His numbers are awful. Can’t stand a pitcher that has poor command. Doesn’t make sense. Defeats the purpose. Walks & hit batters galore.
websoulsurfer
Grizzly Adams the slider master. Does he still hold the record for HBP?