Back in D.C., Adams relishes role as a clubhouse leader

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Matt Adams isn't sure how many offers his agent fielded this offseason. When all was said and done, there was really only one place Adams wanted to go.

"I wanted to come back here," said Adams, who re-signed with the Nationals on Dec. 18. "How quickly they reached out to my agent and presented the offer, there was mutual interest on both sides."

Most players who signed with a team the previous offseason only to be caught in a trade-deadline roster purge would cross that team off their list of potential suitors. But Adams had such a positive experience in three-quarters of a season with the Nationals that it made sense for him to return.

You might say he wanted to take care of some unfinished business.

"I think we've definitely got something special inside this clubhouse," he said. "Last year really didn't sit well with a lot of guys, so I think everybody went into the offseason and busted their butt and showed up hungry, ready to get after that goal of going deep into the postseason and bringing a championship back to D.C."

Adams wasn't around for the conclusion of the Nats' disappointing 2018 campaign, having been claimed off waivers by the Cardinals on Aug. 21. By then, most of the roster deconstruction by general manager Mike Rizzo had been completed, and by the time Adams departed, it was mostly a financial decision designed to save some of the $4 million they had invested in him.

With the Nats last season, Adams delivered a .252/.332/.510 slash line with 18 homers and 48 RBIs in 94 games. He got increased playing time when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman went on the disabled list, and even played some left field before the Nationals summoned Juan Soto to fill that hole during a rash of injuries.

But Adams quickly felt at home on a veteran-laden club, something he didn't take for granted when he was a free agent again this offseason.

"Last year, starting in spring, I felt like I fit in really well with the dynamic of this team," he said. "Riz does a really good job of going out there and getting really good guys. Not just good baseball players, but good-hearted people in general who play the game the right way."

His contributions on the field and in the clubhouse didn't go unnoticed. First-year manager Davey Martinez relied on Adams' veteran moxie and his dangerous left-handed bat off the bench.

"Just his overall presence," Martinez said when asked about what Adams brought to the table. "He's one of those quiet guys that leads as well. We had him last year and we traded him. I'm so glad we brought him back."

Leadership can be an overblown concept, but it's clear that Adams takes seriously his role as a veteran presence. He's been in a variety of clubhouses in seven major league seasons, and likes the vibes the Nationals possess.

"I think the way the veterans lead this clubhouse, I think it meshes well," he said. "The younger guys aren't feeling like they have to walk around here on eggshells. They're able to be themselves, but the veterans police it so if they see something out of hand, they're not afraid to say anything. I think you've got to have that dynamic to where everyone in here holds each other accountable."

And in doing so, the clubhouse helps to foster a sense of camaraderie. Even if something is amiss, it's quickly addressed.

"It's something where you want to nip it in the bud if it's an issue," Adams said. "But in here, that's not the case. I feel like we hold each other accountable because we want everybody to do their best. Step foot out on that field and be ready to go for 27 outs."

Adams likes to lead by example, trying to maintain an even keel - even during those times his patience and mettle are tested. It doesn't do anyone any good if a young player sees Adams get frustrated - at lack of production or a lack of playing time.

"It's more along the lines of just not getting caught too high and not getting caught too low," he said. "I think it's trying to find that happy medium. That at-bat, that pitch is in the past, and now it's time to move on and focus for the next. I think that's kind of the mentality that a lot of the guys in here take. We're strong mentally, we're in the moment and playing the game out there the way it's supposed to be played."