Nationals Catcher Inks New Contract with Boston Red Sox

After opting to leave the organization last month, one former Washington National has already inked a new deal elsewhere for the 2027 season.

Catcher Riley Adams reportedly inked a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, expected to now draw a non-roster camp invite to spring training ahead of the eventual 2027 season. Adams heads to an organization where he faces a tall task at appearing in the majors after the Red Sox made an inter-division trade ahead of the deadline to acquire Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, joining Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper on the 40-man roster. Still, it marks a fresh start as Adams and the Nationals move forward in 2027.

The 30 year old never appeared in a game with the Nationals in 2026 despite entering the season in the mix for the catching job, even if they were long shot odds alongside Keibert Ruiz, Drew Millas and Harry Ford.

The team announced that Adams was sent to Triple A Rochester back in late January after the team claimed reliever Gus Varland. Two months later, Adams was then reassigned to a minor league assignment where he appeared in 82 games in Triple A Rochester. Adams recorded a .273 batting average in the minors in 2026, his best since the 2023 season with the Nationals. His 16 home runs in 2026 marked the first time recording double digit home runs in a season since spending time in Double A back in 2019, while his 50 RBIs over the season marked the most since combining for 51 in 2019 after stints in High A and Double A.

The veteran has played all but 12 of his 263 career games with the Nationals' organization where he owns a .211 batting average with 21 home runs, 73 RBIs and 276 strikeouts. In his last season with the Nationals in 2025, Adams posted eight home runs and 24 RBIs -- both career highs -- in addition to a .186 batting average and .252 OBP across 83 games.

The Nationals enter the season with their own questions at catcher with Keibert Ruiz coming off an encouraging 2026 season, though Harry Ford struggled behind him in his first season with the organization with Drew Millas rounding out the depth. Whether the Nationals address the depth through free agency remains to be seen, though high school catcher prospect Francisco Rivero was the team's 15th round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, though he has since been suspended for a positive drug test.