The Mets announced the signing of first baseman Matt Adams Friday, which includes an invite to big league spring training.Last season, Adams slugged 20 homers with a slash line of .226/.276/.465 in 111 games for the Washington Nationals. Adams had just four plate appearances during the Nats' postseason run which ended with them winning the 2019 World Series.
An eight-year major league veteran, 2019 marked the third straight time Adams hit 20 home runs or more in a season. The 31-year old lefthanded hitting first baseman has a career slash line of .261/.309/.469.Adding Adams creates competition for Dominic Smith. Both are lefthanded hitting first basemen with limited experience in the outfield. In his third season involving a stint in the major leagues, Smith is coming off his best offensive performance, hitting .282/.355/.525 with 11 homers in 89 games for the Mets.
Adams could start the season with Triple-A Syracuse, but adding his established bat less than two weeks before spring training puts pressure on Smith to earn a roster spot, while giving the Mets flexibility in searching for a potential trade suitor.
