NEW YORK — A day after they began filling out their rotation, the Mets began doing the same with their bullpen. The team has agreed to a one-year contract with right-hander Austin Adams, the Mets announced Thursday, adding another arm to a mix of Edwin Díaz and Brooks Raley.
Adams, 32, is a seven-year veteran who most recently posted a 5.71 ERA in 24 appearances for the D-Backs. This appearance was his first since a right forearm strain and resulting flexor tendon surgery limited him to two appearances in 2022.
When healthy, Adams is among the league’s best at limiting hard contact. In recent seasons, he has relied almost exclusively on his slider, throwing it about 90% of the time. The Mets know him from his time in Washington from 2017 to 2019. Adams also played for the Mariners and Padres.
In New York, Adams will operate on a non-guaranteed split contract, although he still has a good chance of joining a bullpen mix currently led by Díaz and Raley. Drew Smith will also return to the bullpen, and the Mets will cobble together some of the rest from a group that includes Phil Bickford, Grant Hartwig and Sean Reid-Foley. The team will also likely add additional pitchers on major league deals.