Braves non-tender Adams, claim Whitley; Tinnish backs out
ATLANTA (AP) The Braves have non-tendered Matt Adams, making the hulking first baseman a free agent a few months after acquiring him from St. Louis.
Atlanta also claimed pitcher Chase Whitley off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday and announced that Andrew Tannish won't be taking a front office job.
Adams hit .271 with 19 homers in 100 games with Atlanta after being acquired from the Cardinals last season while first baseman Freddie Freeman was injured. Atlanta also non-tendered infielder Jace Peterson and outfielder Danny Santana.
The 28-year-old Whitley was acquired one day after the Braves dealt reliever Jim Johnson to the Los Angeles Angels. Atlanta signed Whitley to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for 2018 to avoid salary arbitration. He'll earn $800,000 while in the majors and $375,000 in the minors.
Whitley appeared in 41 games over three separate stints with the Rays last season, going 2-1 with two saves and a 4.08 ERA. It was the first full season for the right-hander since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2015.
Tinnish was hired this week as vice president of amateur and international scouting by Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves' new general manager. The two formerly worked together with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Atlanta said Tinnish changed his mind because of family considerations, opting to remain with the Blue Jays.
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