Headlines

  • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
  • MLB To Experiment With New DH Rule, Mound Distance During 2021 Atlantic League Season
  • Astros, Martin Maldonado Finalizing One-Year Extension
  • James Paxton To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
  • 2021 Trade Deadline Will Be July 30
  • Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Brewers Release Justin Smoak

By TC Zencka | September 8, 2020 at 2:46pm CDT

The Milwaukee Brewers thought they might have a bargain when they signed first baseman Justin Smoak to a one-year deal with a team option this winter. A $5MM guarantee would be a bargain deal for a productive first baseman, and Smoak had been exactly that in the past. The 33-year-old was a 10-year big-leaguer worth 3.0 rWAR in 2017 and 2.0 rWAR in 2018. He struggled in 2019 to a triple slash of .208/.342/.406 with 22 home runs across 500 plate appearances – but the numbers weren’t so far off the previous two years, and there was cause for optimism.

Solid peripherals likely kept Smoak employed, as if you looked at his career 11.6 BB%, 23.6 K%, and .190 ISO, there ’s potential for a potent bat there. Even during a down 2019 season, he logged a 15.8 BB%, 21.2 K%, and .198 ISO. Add in a below-average .223 BABIP and it’s easy to see why the Brewers gambled on him. The BABIP didn’t bounce back, however, and the walk and strikeout rates both went the wrong way.

Maybe the thinking wasn’t misguided, but the results simply didn’t pan out as hoped. The Brewers released Smoak today after he passed through waivers, per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy (via Twitter). He was DFA’ed on September 3rd when the Brewers put in a claim for Daniel Vogelbach.

Vogelbach’s struggles were at least equal to Smoak’s this season, but whether the Brewers see something in Vogelbach or have simply seen enough of Smoak, Smoak’s tenure in Milwaukee is now over. In 126 plate appearances, Smoak hit just .186/.262/.381 with a handful of home runs. Smoak’s major-league career may not yet be over, but he’ll likely need to accept a minor-league contract to keep going.

The 11th overall draft choice of the 2008 draft, Smoak played for the Rangers, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Brewers across 11 seasons. For his career, he owns a triple slash of .229/.322/.419 with 196 home runs.

Share 0 Retweet 12 Send via email0

Justin Smoak Milwaukee Brewers Transactions

Red Sox Roster Moves
Main
Orioles Designate Dilson Herrera, Activate Chris Davis
26 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. Vanilla Good

    7 months ago

    Stick a fork in him, Jerry.

    Like
    Reply
    • 24TheKid

      7 months ago

      Would much rather see France continue to get everyday at bats.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • echozulu88

      7 months ago

      He’s smoked

      1 Like
      Reply
  2. JANUS

    7 months ago

    Hosmer just went down for the season maybe he fits in SD?

    2 Like
    Reply
    • echozulu88

      7 months ago

      Mitch Moreland: you can find better DH at-bats elsewhere than Smoak. Maybe give him a minor league contract just in case

      Like
      Reply
      • CNichols

        7 months ago

        They’re going to be fine with Mitch Moreland for a few weeks. I think by the playoffs they’ll get at least one of Hosmer or Pham back anyways.

        I’d rather they just test prospects like Ona and Campusano, better use of the ABs.

        Like
        Reply
  3. nentwigs

    7 months ago

    FIRST ROUND BUST !!

    Like
    Reply
    • Sheep8

      7 months ago

      Without looking, I bet he’s played longer than half the other first round picks in his class. Maybe not have been a stud, but not a bust.

      8 Like
      Reply
      • bronyaur

        7 months ago

        There were 14 picks in the June draft first round in 2008 after Smoak. Only 3 of them had a higher career bWAR than he did. Only 4 of the ten ahead of him in that draft had a higher career bWAR than Smoak.

        So, 7 of 24 others in the first round of that draft had more productive careers than Smoak (so far).

        Like
        Reply
        • 24TheKid

          7 months ago

          Well, he certainly never lived up to being the next Teixara when he came to Seattle.

          Like
          Reply
      • wild bill tetley

        7 months ago

        Smoak had more chances to succeed than he deserved in Toronto. Then he had one good season after he should have been in Japan. Many players in his draft class only wish they had a team with as much patience as Toronto had with Smoak.

        Like
        Reply
  4. dirtbagfreitas

    7 months ago

    Hey Vogey is 4-9 since heading to Milwaukee. Only a matter of time before a Vogeybomb is launched. Today might be the day!

    Like
    Reply
  5. bobtillman

    7 months ago

    Dey got SMOAKED!!!!!!

    Like
    Reply
  6. Superstar Car Wash

    7 months ago

    “In 126 plate appearances, Smoak hit just .186/.262/.381 with a handful of home runs.”

    What’s a handful? Why be that vague with statistics? Just type “five” to save the time of having to look it up.

    6 Like
    Reply
    • JANUS

      7 months ago

      Oh because clicking on the link to his BREF page that’s listed in the article is too much of a bother for you? Why are so many users so critical on this site?

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Superstar Car Wash

        7 months ago

        Not at all, it just seems strange for a site geared around baseball statistics.

        “Mike Trout has a really high WAR in 2020.”
        “Nelson Cruz has a bunch of home runs for the Twins.”

        Both of those would sound just as silly. It just sounded lazy to be so vague, instead of typing how many home runs Smoak actually hit, because I honestly didn’t know reading the article.

        Don’t you worry though; I’m getting my money back from reading the article!

        4 Like
        Reply
    • Lanidrac

      7 months ago

      Technically, a handful IS 5, but yes the term is usually used in a more vague sense.

      Like
      Reply
  7. cantonjester

    7 months ago

    The Yankees need to pick him up and release Ford to make room. DH Voit and start Smoak.

    1 Like
    Reply
  8. stubby66

    7 months ago

    Ok I get it, they released Smoak but Vogel definitely isn’t our answer at first either. Im sorry just not looking to seeing how big this guy will get with the beers and brats. Dead ringer for John Jaha .

    Like
    Reply
    • AaronAngst

      7 months ago

      Jaha? Jaha was jacked… probably artificially so given the era he played in, but he definitely didn’t share Vogelbach’s roundness,.. for lack of a better term.

      Like
      Reply
  9. mario crosby

    7 months ago

    Two years from now he will be a target for the Pirates.

    Like
    Reply
    • solaris602

      7 months ago

      You’re right. By that time Smoak will be on a busy street corner carrying a dog eared cardboard sign that says, “Will play for food”. Bob Nutting (who cruises the streets regularly for such opportunities) pulls up and says, “Ramen twice a day + unlimited tap water. That’s my one and only offer that expires in 3-2-1….”. Smoak accepts the offer and hops in the truck bed.

      1 Like
      Reply
  10. higgy5220

    7 months ago

    I would prefer the Yankees take a shot at him and get rid of ford

    1 Like
    Reply
  11. HaloHonk4Life

    7 months ago

    I wouldn’t mind if The Halos took a flier. I remember when they interviewed Ron Washington regarding Smoak being traded for Cliff Lee.
    The reporter said Ron, In order to get Lee you’re going to have give up Smoak.
    Washington replied “Smoak has got to go”

    Like
    Reply
  12. marcowaller84

    7 months ago

    Smoak n Mirrors, I wonder if pure country has a blu ray release

    Like
    Reply
  13. Gigorilla

    7 months ago

    fire david stearns the brewers are horrible.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    2021-22 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

    MLB To Experiment With New DH Rule, Mound Distance During 2021 Atlantic League Season

    Astros, Martin Maldonado Finalizing One-Year Extension

    James Paxton To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

    2021 Trade Deadline Will Be July 30

    Diamondbacks Sign Josh Reddick To Minor League Deal

    Jonathan Hernandez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Dexter Fowler To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

    MLB Inspecting “Suspicious Baseballs” From Trevor Bauer’s Latest Start

    Trevor Rosenthal Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery

    Recent

    Blue Jays Place Julian Merryweather On IL, Select Anthony Castro

    Astros Place 5 On Injured List

    2021-22 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

    Reds Claim Phillip Diehl, Transfer Michael Lorenzen To 60-Day Injured List

    Phillies Place Adam Haseley On Restricted List, Recall Mickey Moniak

    Braves Place Max Fried, Cristian Pache On 10-Day Injured List

    Indians Sign Rene Rivera

    Red Sox Prospect Bryan Mata Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Cubs Select Shelby Miller

    Royals Designate Nick Heath For Assignment

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • Francisco Lindor Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version