According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, infielder Matt Adams exercised the release clause in his contract and is now a free agent, ending his Mets tenure before playing a regular-season game for the team.
The Mets signed Adams to a minor league contract last winter, seeking to add a veteran power bat off the bench and to provide positional depth at first base.
With Dominic Smith remaining a Met despite trade rumors during the off season, Adams’ presence on the roster became less valuable despite the DH being in the National League this year.
Smith provides a solid left-handed bat, with occasional power.
Smith is also a defensively-skilled first baseman, who can dabble in the outfield, though he is far less gifted defensively as an outfielder.
Adams has played in the major leagues for parts of eight seasons, originally with the Cardinals from 2012-2016, then with the Cardinals and Braves in 2017.
He split 2018 with the Cardinals and Nationals, and was with the Nats in 2019, their World Championship year.
Adams hold a career bWAR of 5.3. He has a career batting average of .261 with 116 home runs and 388 RBIs.
Adams’ best year was 2017, when he slugged 20 home runs and posted a ..274 BA combined with St. Louis and Atlanta.
