Phillies sign setup man Mike Adams
The Philadelphia Phillies fortified their bullpen by agreeing with right-hander Mike Adams on a two-year, $12 million deal with a vesting option for a third season at $6.5 million, major league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Adams, coming off rib-removal surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome, proved healthy enough for the Phillies to hand him their eighth-inning role and a salary commensurate with the game's best setup men.
In the five years since, the 34-year-old Adams has posted a 1.98 ERA with San Diego and Texas, second in the major leagues only to Mariano Rivera's 1.72. Adams also ranks second in opponents' on-base percentage, third in opponents' slugging percentage and has struck out 311 in 295 innings.
[Related: Blue Jays closing in on deal for R.A. Dickey]
The Phillies on Saturday morning also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent left-hander John Lannan, according to CSNPhilly.com.
While the Phillies' starting rotation remains one of baseball's best, their bullpen struggled last season to the tune of a 3.94 ERA. Beyond closer Jonathan Papelbon, the Phillies' bullpen was a mish-mash of inconsistency, though right-hander Phillippe Aumont and left-hander Jeremy Horst showed promise toward the end of the season.
Adams represents the Phillies' first foray into free agency this season after a pair of trades brought them center fielder Ben Revere and third baseman Michael Young. His option for the 2015 season vests with 60 appearances in 2013 and 2014 or 65 appearances in 2014.
He is the ninth relief pitcher to receive a multiyear deal this offseason, and with Rafael Soriano, Carlos Villanueva, J.P. Howell and others available, the number could jump past a dozen – second most in the last five years behind the 17 signed in 2010.
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