The Orioles have designated outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. for assignment and have selected the contract of outfielder Mason Williams, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.
With Smith Jr. removed from the 40-man roster, the team will have a week to either trade the 27-year-old or place him on outright waivers. Per Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com, O’s general manager Mike Elias is hopeful that Smith Jr. will remain in the organization following his DFA.
Although his 2020 season has not gone as hoped, Smith Jr. was a capable contributor for last year’s Orioles, batting .241/.297/.412 in his first shot at a regular role with an MLB team.
However, he’s fallen out of favor in Baltimore as he finds himself in an increasingly crowded outfield mix in need of a true center fielder after the injury to Austin Hays. Smith Jr. is limited to left field and has struggled defensively since coming to Baltimore.
Mason Williams will join the Orioles roster as an option to play center field occasionally, and is more suited for a role as a fourth outfielder than Smith Jr. due to his positional flexibility. He appeared with the Orioles briefly last year, though he spent the majority of the year with Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate. There, he hit .308/.371/.477 with 18 home runs, his most in a season since debuting in 2010.
Well… that was predictable.
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha Orioles
dumbos
Nice that you get so much mirth from routine roster moves. They designated a non prospect role player
Someone add a little chlorine to your gene pool nemo?
Your well thought out response to this roster move shows why you are so highly respected on this site.
🙁
Someone take him on as a defensive replacement! 😛
I think he’ll latch on with a team that can platoon him with a right handed hitter. Maybe the Padres (Profar has been very poor vs righties)?
Doesn’t really have the defensive metrics to justify this, though he hasn’t been a terrible hitter vs. righties, so he could for sure benefit from a hard platoon opportunity.
I think we can make it official: Dwight Sr. is going to end up with the better MLB career
Dwight Smith Jr. cannot play defense, often looking like he needs a GPS system to fine the ball. Secondly, his base running is less than desirable! That said, likely someone will give him a shot.
Classical Gas!
Making room for their next waiver claim from the Blue Jays… Anthony Alford.
Since when is that slash line considered “capable”? In any other article it would be “disappointing”.
My thought too!
Get your ticket to Kansas City in line D, Mr. Smith.