The Mets placed first baseman Dominic Smith on the 10-day injured list due to a right ankle sprain, per a team announcement. The move is retroactive to July 17, so Smith will be able to return by the middle of next week, in a best-case scenario.
Smith’s placement on the IL comes with less than two weeks remaining before the Aug. 2 trade deadline. He’s been an obvious change-of-scenery candidate for much of the season and has reportedly been the subject of conversations with both the Cubs and the Red Sox. Smith’s placement on the IL doesn’t by any means eliminate the possibility of a trade; beyond the fact that he can return prior to the deadline, it’s not uncommon to see players flipped even while on the 10- or 15-day IL. (Look no further than Boston’s acquisition of Kyle Schwarber last summer.) That said, it does throw a wrench into things for the Mets, particularly since they’d be selling low on Smith in the first place.
The 27-year-old Smith hit .299/.366/.571 in 396 plate appearances with the Mets from 2019-20, giving the impression that he was making good on his status as a former first-round pick and top-100 prospect. In the two seasons since that time, however, he’s managed just a .233/.298/.345 batting line in 645 plate appearances, playing through a partial tear in his right shoulder’s labrum last season and struggling through inconsistent playing time so far in 2022. The Mets optioned Smith to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of May, and while he hit fairly well in the minors and has been a bit better since returning in late June, the overall results this season have been quite poor.
Smith is owed the remainder of a $3.95MM salary for the 2022 season and will be arbitration-eligible twice more before becoming a free agent following the 2024 season — assuming he’s tendered a contract, of course. At present, he looks like a clear non-tender candidate for a Mets team that won’t be able to afford him regular playing time upon his return from the IL, although another club might welcome the chance to buy low on Smith and hope that regular at-bats bring about production closer to his 2019-20 form.
Hahahahaha sorry to hear of an injury but good luck with that trade now lol..Mets being Mets. Trying to trade a injured player lol
The injury, if minor, may not be a big deal. The fact that he lost the ability to play is more important.
The Cubs don’t seem to want to even pay Happ arbitration. Why would they want to take on Smith. At least Happ is productive.
Sad life you must live. Sounds like you need to get laid
Plz lay me
From that kind of statement, I presume your either a Spankie lover or Bravo-kiss ass troll, that is looking for some attention? You shouldn’t hate, if my team is trying to improve there roster, for a playoff spot. Also, don’t hate if we have the richest owner in baseball and happens to be a lifelong Mets fan!
We could laugh at you, Taco and your inability to understand basic things like speculative rumor and other teams interest vs. the Mets actively trying to trade an injured player. You are a slave to headlines and your own inability to interpret media. Why do the Mets so much live in your head?
Don’t be mad at the taco you’d all take a taco of Dominic Pitts anyway
Apparently Taco, you’re having your stroke in installments.
I’m sorry, did the Mets announce they were trying to move Don Smith?
Did I miss that?
I think there’s been speculation that the Mets could move Smith, but that could be said about any player on any team.
In fact, the only team I’ve actually heard announce they are prepared to listen specifically on a player recently is the Nats w/Soto probably because they said they wouldn’t & since Soto turned down what the Nats felt was the best they could do, decided to get word out that they now would be willing to listen.
I just haven’t seen anything that the Mets are actively shopping Smith, but again, maybe I missed something.
Yeah there was an article yesterday from mlbtr stating they talking to multiple teams about a trade for him. I was questioning why are they even talking to teams knowing he has an injury ?
Pretty sure a non-contending team would be okay with trading for someone with a minor injury, especially since the return for Smith will be so minimal.
For the Mets, it’s more about opening a roster spot.
Makes sense
Are you still in elementary school? A minor injury is not going to impact the value of a guy with limited value anyway. Do you think they were going to ask for Soto? Grow up
It amazes me how many small-minded people here get enormous satisfaction from being so miserably negative. All The Time. Get a life.
Sleepy Dom is a Total Bum who belongs in an Indy League. His offense is too weak for a 1B or DH without Power. I can’t see him being traded for anything as he is a waste of a roster position.
Just Say NO and Hang UP!
You seem like a really pleasant person.
A bum might a little harsh (never mind total bum) but I agree. Would rather have Franchy as the lefty at first if a big move is not made by Bloom. Smith got lucky in my view with respect to 19 (juiced ball) and 20 (shortened, small sample size).
Dewey,
Dom has had issues with his diet & weight and has been out of shape.
How many MLB Players do you know who overslept and were late for ST and were demoted on account of this?
northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2018/08/21/d…
Good point !
You know he has a medical condition that affects his sleep?
Im sure your feelings are just sown into him supporting BLM
I was going to say exactly this — and I didn’t even have the article to support it.
You can tell in his physique and his demeanor.
Can’t trade him fast enough.
Actually I wanted the Mets to draft Aaron Judge with the pick when the Mets drafted Dom Smith as did quite a few intelligent posters on the old MLB Mets Board. Yankees got it right and Mets have been hyping Dom since. It is all coming out in the wash right about now. LOL
The Yankees did it again, by drafting Judge 2.0 from the draft. I guess when Judge leaves for free agency, his clone will take his spot in right or center field?
The second half is when it will go downhill for the Mets. Everything went there way in the first-half.
Oh yeah, losing 3/5 of their starting rotation was just dandy
*their
and still winning pretty much all their series… a sign of a lucky team (at least in their case).
If deGrom returns, his production will be offset when on the field luck evens out at the end.
bro what
If anything, the opposite should be true. Their schedule lightens up. Max is back. deGrom maybe comes back…maybe. I can’t see a way the Mets blow this one. Even with expected regression from Walker (who sometime fades in the 2nd-half) the Mets should easily coast towards the playoffs. The Braves are close enough to take the division, but they’ll have their work cut out for them. I just can’t see the Mets losing this. Oh yeah and Steve Cohen has a blockbuster or two in him. Just wait.
You’re going to jinx the Mets with loose talk like that, Von. 😉
That’d be fine by me haha. I don’t see it though.
I like the Mets and hope they succeed, but it’s also fun to see a team choke down the stretch. Fans get vicious. Coaches get fired. Great fun. After a fashion.
They are 12 games into the “second half”
of the season. They went 8 -4 in those games so I guess that they are going downhill.
‘The Mets just got Scherzer back and deGrom might be quick to follow. Here’s why that’s bad for the Mets!’
Nice hot take, Stephen A.
Yep. Replacing Trevor Williams with Jacob deGrom is just stupid. Matter of fact, they better drop Scherzer too and get Peterson back in there. If only we had Adam Duvall. I can see this collapse from a mile away. I mean a +80 run differential and then adding Scherzer and deGrom is a tell tale sign of a sinking ship.
See you guys for 5 on Citi soon.
TacoShells I would bet any amount of money that You must be the Biggest Tool in person.
@thecrown24….Hey, be nice to the little lad, he’s not sure how to spell “tortilla.”
There is no trade value here and no one wants to take on this salary dump.
Salary dump? He’s making like $1.5 million the rest of the season and the Mets owner is the richest one in the sport.
@msqboxer; agreed, no trade value here. Next year, wouldn’t be shocked if he ended up with a full rebuild team. His salary most likely being at the 2023 major league minimum … or, if no takers, he may even have to take a minor league deal.
If the cardinals can get Paul Goldschmidt to wave his no trade clause during their deadline sell off, I look for the Mets to get involved as they are one of a few teams that can take on that albatross of a contract.
Unless Goldschmidt can play adequate third base, I doubt it would interest the Mets.
Mets need a third baseman that can produce, not replace Dominic Smith in natural position.
Please tell me this is a joke that I’m not understanding. Goldschmidt is having an MVP-level season, leading the NL in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+ and is on pace for like 8.5 WAR and only has two years and $52 million left on his contract. On what planet is his deal an ‘albatross’?
Plus the Cardinals are in the hunt for the division and World Series. They’re only 0.5 games back from 1st place! Why would they EVER trade their MVP-caliber 1st baseman???
Kind of weird to call the contract of the NL MVP front runner an albatross but ok.
Forget Soto. Go and get these two free agents: Josh Bell and David Robertson.
I can see it.
Bingo
Are you chippy cordae fans ready to watch the games today? 😉
Smith and Davis have had ample opportunities to show their pop. Hasn’t worked out with NYM. Too bad. By all accounts both solid guys. But that’s baseball
I don’t think Smith is injured enough or hitting poorly enough to be attractive to this Red Sox front office. Is he at least willing to play some second and center?
Think they did him disservice a few years back and signed Adrian Gonzalez instead of giving him first base. That was his shot to sink or swim. Then Alonzo comes along and Dom shuffled from AAA to outfield to backup. That year they weren’t going anywhere anyway.
Some non-contender should be trading for this guy and just plugging him in every day for the rest of the season.
Assuming the Mets are realistic about what he’s worth, which best case at this point might be some one else’s similar disappointment looking for a change of scenery.
Of course, I suppose from the Mets perspective, they might feel like trading him for minimal value isn’t worth it, better to just hold onto him in case Alonso gets hurt.
I like tampa. Do well with young players.
“Some non-contender should be trading for this guy and just plugging him in every day for the rest of the season.”
I don’t know why, but Oakland seems like it would be perfect for him. He could play every day there and he’s originally from California (SoCal, but still).
He will go to Boston and go nuts with the bat. Signed, Despairing Yankees Fan
Typical for such a low character individual. Going down with a suspicious injury so he can continue being paid without having to participate.
Dom is a high character individual. His teammates love him and prior to his performance swoon, so did the fans. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
So you are saying he’s faking the injury so he doesn’t have to play? On what basis is it suspicious ? Where has he ever shown bad character? Do know how stupid and bitter that makes you sound? There really are some moronic takes around here but this wins idiot of the day.
What evidence do you have to support your claim that he’s hard working?
The nature of being a MLB player requires a certain degree of hard work. You’re the one throwing out baseless criticisms of a well liked and respected player, the burden of proof is on you and your strangely angry claims. (Also, small point, but no one here actually made the claim that he is hard working. I’m sure he is, but still, kinda weird to bring it up like that.)
I have not once seen him giving maximum effort or displaying a full commitment to the team. That’s an eye witness account. I’ve also not been told by any current or former teammates the extent of his popularity, so called. Your move.
I have not been told that you do not eat puppies for breakfast. By anyone. Ever. Nor have I ever seen you not eat puppies for breakfast. What’s wrong with you, haven’t you ever heard of Fruit Loops? (And exactly how does one witness a player displaying a full commitment? You’re just making nasty, baseless allegations backed up by nothing but your own claims. I have seen his teammates laughing with him and palling around with him. And doubt that any of his teammates have ever told you ANYTHING. You are being vindictive and ridiculous and I’ve indulged your childish grudge against this player long enough. I feel like talk radio is more your medium, this place is too sophisticated for you and as well as whatever moron gave your comment a like, and I’ve a feeling I know exactly who that was.)
Well played, Cosmo.Can’t stand the canards on this board