The latest minor moves from around the game…
- The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization announced that they have signed right-hander Josh A. Smith, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net relays. Smith will earn a $500K salary and could receive another $100K in incentives. The 33-year-old Smith spent last season in Miami, where he was teammates with fellow reliever Josh D. Smith, and struggled to a 6.84 ERA/4.67 FIP with 6.15 K/9 and 3.76 BB/9 in 26 1/3 innings. The Marlins outrighted him at the end of October. Smith has appeared in the majors with four different teams since his 2015 debut and logged a 5.60 ERA/5.27 FIP across 184 2/3 innings.
- The Reds have signed lefty Jesse Biddle and righty R.J. Alaniz to minor league contracts with invitations to big league camp, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com tweets. The club previously outrighted Biddle and non-tendered Alaniz. Biddle garnered extensive MLB experience with the Braves, Mariners and Rangers from 2018-19, but after offering subpar production in the second of those seasons, he had to settle for a minors pact with the Reds last winter. The 29-year-old did make it back to the majors in 2020, though he only made one appearance. Alaniz, also 29, made his big league debut in 2019, throwing 15 2/3 innings of 16-earned run ball between Seattle and Cincinnati. He didn’t return to the bigs last season.
just glad we got one game featuring both Josh Smiths
Imagine being a professional athlete, and you’re proud that you made a name for yourself, but you always need to be referred to with your middle initial added on just to make sure that people don’t mistake you for someone else.
Rough.
Well, it’s their fault for being Smiths.
One of them could go by Joshua
Strange that both Josh A Smith and Josh D Smith were with Miami this year and were both with Pawtucket at the same time in 2018.
Josh A Smith is right handed and Josh D Smith is left handed.
Yeah it is definitely very bizarre that not once but twice were they on the same team! Haha and in a matter of 3 years (granted the PawSox were AAA but still… it’s a pretty weird coincidence) — now all that needs to happen is the other Josh Smith needs to sign with Kiwoom haha that would really be the icing on the cake! (though that seems unlikely as Josh D. Smith actually seems like he should have a chance at competing for a spot in a ML bullpen next season whereas Josh A Smith will not be in Korea! Haha — still one can dream right? lol
R.J. Alaniz has a lifetime batting average of 1.000 (1-for-1) including 11 seasons in the minor leagues. He never had an at bat in his entire minor league career.
reminds me of Nate Karns hitting a HR to be the only one to drive in a run off Aaron Nola in his debut.
Remember Bobby J. Jones and Bobby M. Jones for the Mets? One was white, one was black; one was a righty, one was a lefty; but cool nonetheless having the same name.
Or the two Bob Miller’s…
I remember there were two NFC wide receivers named Gene Washington at the same time
Hey. What’s everyone doing tonight? Would you smoke crackers for a million bucks, tax free? Your parents have to watch.
How many Josh Smith’s does it take to fill a bullpen?
Rsox – “How many Josh Smith’s does it take to fill a bullpen?”
A lot when you have a MLB era of 5.60 over 184 2/3 innings…..that is not a small sample size.
That’s what she said.
Speaking of small sample size….
Phillips Valdez had a nice run while pitching mop up for the Red Sox in 2020, but once he started pitching meaningful innings he started putting a lot of runners of base. He ended the season with a 3.26 ERA, but his WHIP was a high 1.62 and his batting average against was .282. Many publications i read have one the Red Sox opening day bullpen. I do not see it.