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ANAHEIM -- That Dodgers pitching depth all of a sudden doesn't look quite so deep. The latest blow to the staff came Thursday, when relief pitcher Mike Adams left the team. Manager Don Mattingly told reporters the news before Thursday's Freeway Series opener against the Angels.
RHP Mike Adams has left the Dodgers and will not report to Triple-A, as was planned. Retirement may be imminent.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 3, 2015
Mike Adams is heading home and will not report to AAA to start season. Mattingly wouldn't say if he was retiring.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 3, 2015
The Dodgers told Adams on Tuesday that he wouldn't make the team, instead agreeing to pay the 36-year-old a $100,000 retention bonus to remain on his minor league contract. By failing to report, Adams would forfeit that retention bonus.
Adams was slated to start what is a bullpen game for the Dodgers on Thursday, with a series of relievers pitching short stints. That start will instead go to Sergio Santos.
The Dodgers had a similar situation with relief pitcher Kevin Gregg, a non-roster invitee who didn't make the team out of spring training in 2013. Gregg refused to report to Albuquerque and was ultimately granted his release by the club. It is unclear whether the Dodgers plan to release Adams from his contract, which otherwise wouldn't have an opt-out clause until June 1.
This doesn't sound like a health issue for Adams, who battled shoulder injuries the last two seasons with the Phillies.
"Health-wise I've been good. I haven't had any outings I've felt bad at all," Adams said on Tuesday. "I've just been inconsistent with performance."
Adams also said on Tuesday that while disappointed he didn't make the opening day roster, that he understood the decision and was happy with the organization.
"They've been pretty honest with what they've told me. They've been upfront. The lines of communication have been open," Adams said. "I've taken their word that if I do what I have to do I'll be back up. It's totally going to come down to me. I have to prove I'm still healthy, able to bounce back and do all the stuff I need to do."
But something changed in the last 48 hours, and now it sounds like Adams won't be pitching in the Dodgers organization, or possibly for anyone, anytime soon.