Atlanta Braves: What Matt Adams brings to the table

The Atlanta Braves have brought in an interesting and intriguing temporary replacement for Freddie Freeman.

On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves announced that they had acquired Matt Adams in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange for Adams, the Cardinals received minor league infielder Juan Yepez.

The Braves, of course, recently lost their All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman to a wrist injury. Freeman was off to a scorching start this season, hitting .341/.461/.748 (211 OPS+) with an NL-leading 14 home runs.

Despite having a sub-.500 record of 18-22, Atlanta is currently in second place in the NL East and far from being buried in the standings. While Adams isn’t Freeman, it is very possible that he could help keep the Braves’ season afloat.

Previous Big-League Success

Adams made his debut with Cardinals in 2012, appearing in 27 games as a rookie. Over the next two seasons, he went on to put up very solid numbers. Although some expected his power numbers to be a bit higher, Adams slashed .287/.327/.474 (121 OPS+) while averaging 16 home runs between 2013-14.

Adams’ power also showed up at a time when the Cardinals needed it the most. In Game 4 of the 2014 NLDS, Adams launched a go-ahead, three-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, and the Cardinals ultimately advanced to the NLCS for a fourth straight year. Furthermore, as a player who once hit 32 home runs in Double-A Springfield, it also appeared that he had not yet reached his ceiling in the power department.

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However, in 2015, injuries limited Adams to just 60 games. Last year, Brandon Moss and Matt Carpenter also saw significant time at first base, but Adams performed well when he played. Over 327 plate appearances, Adams slashed .249/.309/.471 (107 OPS+) with 16 home runs.

When it was announced that Carpenter would be moving to first base full-time to begin the 2017 season, Adams’ future in St. Louis was left uncertain. Still, he was a productive bench bat for the Cardinals this year, hitting .292/.340/.396 (96 OPS+) with a homer over 53 plate appearances. For the first time of his career, he also played a position other than first base, appearing in six games and making five starts in left field.

How Does He Fit Long-Term?

Adams is still only 28 years old. He remains under team control through next season, but many are likely to wonder exactly how he will fit into the Braves’ future plans.

Though Adams clearly fits in as a nice temporary replacement, Freeman is one of the best first basemen in the game and can obviously be expected to reclaim the position upon his return. When it comes to the outfield, the Braves have Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis on the corners as well.

However, in Freeman’s absence, Adams will have an opportunity to once again show what he can do in an everyday role. If he performs well as a starting first basemen, it is possible that Atlanta might have an intriguing trade piece in Adams once Freeman returns. If the Braves choose to keep Adams around through next season, then he could be a valuable bench piece. Though he may not be a great outfielder, it is also helpful that he can at least play some left field in a pinch.

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It is very possible that Adams still carries quite a bit of upside. It will be very interesting to see what the change of scenery might be able to do for his career.