MLB Rumors: Matt Kemp To Ink Minor-League Deal With Marlins, Chance Adams Waved After Gerrit Cole Signing

The New York Yankees have officially unveiled Gerrit Cole and had to designate Chance Adams for assignment to clear a roster spot while Matt Kemp is attempting to re-establish his career and is on the verge of signing a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.

New York won the Gerrit Cole sweepstakes by offering an earth-shattering nine-year $324 million contract to the right-hander. In addition to creating some luxury tax issues for the Bombers, this also created a situation where they had to drop a player from their 40-man roster.

According to Jeff Todd of MLBTradeRumors, the victim, in this case, is Adams, another right-handed pitcher. The 25-year-old was designated for assignment after spending his entire career to this point in the Yankees’ system. Adams was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and threw 33 innings over two seasons for the big club.

That foray into the major leagues proved difficult for Adams as he allowed 30 runs in that span. He has been at the Scranton Rail Riders, the Yankees’ triple-A affiliate, for most of the past three seasons and posted a 4.04 ERA during that time.

Meanwhile, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports the Miami Marlins and Kemp are close to agreeing to terms on a minor league contract. The deal includes an invitation to Miami’s big-league spring training camp.

The 35-year-old was limited to just 20 games in the 2019 season due to not only a regression in the player’s abilities but also due to injury. Kemp struggled at the plate during that time, posting a batting average of just .200 in 62 plate appearances for the Cincinnati Reds.

They chose to dump Kemp after he suffered a broken rib injury which also prevented a real comeback at the triple-A level in the New York Mets’ organization. Meanwhile, the Marlins needed a bit more power at the corner outfield position and are taking a gamble on Kemp.

He has slugged 281 homers and batted a respectable .285 in his career, so there is the possibility of some decent production from Kemp. However, at 35 and with a history of injury, he likely won’t get the everyday job.