Royals acquire pitcher Chance Adams from the Yankees

The Royals have acquired right-handed pitcher Chance Adams from the Yankees, according to MLB Network reporter Mark Feinsand. Adams had been designated for assignment last week to make room for free agent Gerrit Cole. The 25-year old has pitched parts of the last two seasons with the Yankees, throwing 33 innings with 27 strikeouts and 15 walks with 10 home runs allowed and an ERA of 8.18.

Adams is originally a fifth-round pick out of Dallas Baptist University and he excelled in the minor leagues to the point he was named a Top 100 prospect before the 2018 season by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline. He had surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow and has struggled since then. His walk rate skyrocketed in Triple-A as that year and he struggled a bit in the International League again this year with an ERA of 4.63 in 81 ²⁄₃ innings with 4.2 walks-per-nine innings.

Adams throws in the low 90s with an above-average spin rate and he has been a flyball pitcher. He also throws a slider, curveball, and a change up but lacks a stand-out secondary offering.He was a reliever in college but has pitched primarily as a starter in the minors. According to Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel at Fangraphs, “it may now make sense to put him in the bullpen and see if it bounces back.”

The return for the Yankees has not yet been reported. The Yankees were facing a 40-man roster crunch, so it will likely be a low level prospect or cash considerations. The Royals now have a full 40-man roster.

Update: The trade is official. The Royals give up infielder Cristian Perez, a 21-year old infielder who hit .252/.290/.285 for Wilmington.