Cardinals bring back Matt Adams from Nationals
The tear-down in D.C. continues.
The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed first baseman Matt Adams off waivers from the Washington Nationals, the team announced on Tuesday.
Adams is slashing .257/.332/.510 with 18 home runs in just 277 plate appearances this season. The lefty hitter has been particularly effective when facing right-handed pitching, hammering opponents to the tune of a .373 wOBA.
In the field, Adams ranked second on the Nationals behind Ryan Zimmerman with 377 2/3 innings spent at first base. Among all major leaguers with at least 350 innings spent at first this season, Adams ranks ninth with a UZR of 2.1, well ahead of current Cardinals mainstays Matt Carpenter (1.3) and Jose Martinez (-3.4). Adams has also logged 99 innings in the outfield, with all but four innings coming in left field.
The 29-year-old previously played for the Cardinals from 2012-17.
Washington now appears primed to shed salary commitments and bottom out rather than make a late playoff push. With a 62-63 record, the Nationals sit behind both the upstart Atlanta Braves (69-55) and Philadelphia Phillies (68-56) in the National League East standings.
Coinciding with news of the Adams claim, it was reported that star infield Daniel Murphy had been traded to the Chicago Cubs.
Superstar outfielder Bryce Harper, the 2015 NL MVP and six-time All-Star, has also reportedly been claimed on revocable waivers by an unknown team; the 25-year-old is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2018 season.