The Royals announced the signing of left-hander Will Smith to a one-year contract. It’s reportedly a $5MM guarantee for the CAA client, who could earn up to $1MM in additional incentives. He’d receive $125K for every fifth appearance between 25 and 60 contests.
Smith, 34, returns to the club with whom he made his big league debut back in 2012. Then a starting pitcher, Smith took the ball for 16 turns through the rotation during his age-22 rookie campaign, struggling to a 5.32 ERA and 4.66 FIP across 89 2/3 innings of work. The Royals converted Smith to relief the following season, and the southpaw hasn’t looked back since. He posted a solid 3.24 ERA, 23% better than league average by ERA+, and a 3.03 FIP from 2013-16 across 202 2/3 innings of work split between the Royals, Brewers, and Giants organizations.
Smith missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but returned to the mound in 2018 to deliver the finest two seasons of his career. Pitching for San Francisco in 2018-19, Smith posted a 2.66 ERA and 2.71 FIP, striking out a whoping 35.8% of batters faced while racking up 48 saves and earning his lone career All Star appearance during the 2019 season. That dominant performance earned him a three-year, $40MM deal with the Braves in free agency the following winter.
The lefty struggled during the first season of that deal, posting a 4.50 ERA with a whopping 7.38 FIP during the shortened 2020 season, though that amounted to just 16 innings of work. The remainder of the contract saw Smith post decent numbers out of the bullpen as the Braves won the World Series in 2021, though he would ultimately be shipped to Houston the following year in a swap that brought Jake Odorizzi to Atlanta. Overall, Smith posted a 3.69 ERA and 4.21 FIP over 127 innings while striking out 27.9% of batters faced and collecting two World Series rings between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
In his return to the open market last winter, Smith lingered on the free agent market until late March before ultimately signing with the Rangers on a one-year, $1.5MM guarantee. Though Smith posted a roughly league average 4.40 ERA in 2023, he managed a more palatable 3.36 FIP and recorded 22 saves in 27 chances for Texas last season as they went on to make the postseason for the first time since 2016 before winning the first World Series championship in franchise history and earning Smith his third consecutive World Series ring.
Back on the free agent market once again, Smith wasted no time in agreeing to a deal this winter, and figures to get the opportunity to close for the Royals entering the 2024 campaign. The contract will give the southpaw the opportunity to bounce back on a team with minimal hopes of making the playoffs next season, a similar situation to the one Kansas City offered Aroldis Chapman in 2023 before he joined Smith in Texas following a midseason trade. Meanwhile the Royals are surely hoping that, if they do find themselves on the outside looking in with regards to the playoff race, Smith will have pitched well enough by the time the trade deadline rolls around next summer to net the club a solid return just as Chapman did when he was swapped for Cole Ragans. Ragans, 26 this week, made 12 starts for the Royals down the stretch after the club acquired him from the Rangers and impressed with a 2.64 ERA and 31.1% strikeout rate in 71 2/3 innings of work.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported Smith and the Royals had agreed to a one-year, $5MM guarantee. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported the possibility of $1MM in incentives, which the Associated Press specified.
wvsteve
Glad things are picking up
99CaptainJudge99
Fresh Prince
edwardk64
Hey, keep his name out of your mouth!
TradeAcuna
Glad this confirms the Dodgers are not winning the WS in 2024.
Ryan SoftballGod Siembal
what if they pick him up at the deadline
wvredsfan
oh, true… he’s seems to collect WS rings
stubby66
Well did you know that a Will Smith has actually won a WS ring 4 years in a row. granted it started with the catcher Will Smith with the Dodgers then this Will Smith 3 years in a row with Atlanta, Houston then Texas
coachsixstring
Smith for Ohtani?
stymeedone
Does it confirm the Royal are? He will probably be traded to the LAD at the deadline.
Champ world champion Texas Rangers
Former Texas Ranger
kidnova
World Series champion 2024 confirmed.
braveshomer
slapping down a $100 right now for the Royals WS odds
mikevm3
Royals win 2024 World Series confirmed
Mickey Solis
The Dodgers will trade for him and then win the World Series
David W
Will Smith to Will Smith final out?
clgreeson7
With Will Smith slapping people in the stands
coachsixstring
Likely Will Smith (C) comes to KC when Will Smith & Salvador Perez go to LA.
Heidegger
ぎゃはは ! !
BrettPhillips for Prezident
Beat me to it
Redsoxx_62
2024 World Series champs confirmed
DarrenDreifortsContract
He’ll be flipped at the deadline.
CO Guardening
And that team wins the WS?
For Love of the Game
Yes, that comes along with the player like a BOGO!
traverave
That’s your 2024 World Champion Kansas CIty Royals
nmendoza7
They’re wining the World Series confirmed
jhomeslice
I hope he doesn’t slap anybody.
ou812jay8
Obviously Will Smith thought winning three World Series in a row was enough.
benhen77
Hottest commodity on the trade market come July.
whyhayzee
Left handed relievers totally could sign ten year contracts, they last forever. However, the contract would stipulate that they have to pitch for five different teams.
This one belongs to the Reds
More bullpen help the Reds didn’t get…as expected. Same results, same excuses upcoming.
JSC Cubbs
Woo. Ha ha.
Motor City Beach Bum
Nice signing.
Travis’ Wood
He’s gonna be flipped…. So we won’t know the next World Series winner until the trade deadline!
Buzzz Killington
Better keep his wifes name out your damn mouth.
misterb71
Can we start speculating what Smith will bring in return once the calendar turns to July? It would have to be the most stunning turn of events if the Royals held him beyond the trade deadline.
Travis’ Wood
He’s also not good so any downturn in performance and no contender will even want him. He barely pitched for Texas down the stretch and didn’t pitch for Houston at all last year
cuffs2
Will Smith for Dustin May. Book it.
TLB2001
Great signing. Even at this point in his career, he’s substantially better than anyone else in our bullpen and can be flipped if necessary.
whatwouldyogido
Size up those rings!
ASapsFables
White Sox AL Central rivals scooping up lefty pen arms today!
AL B DAMNED
Chris Rock has 3 shows in Kansas City in late July! Will & Jada invited!
Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
Dominos falling now.
JayRyder
3 rings. And a trade deadline pickup. Not bad for him.
Salzilla
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but all eyes will be on Smith this season. He’s like the One Ring. Come here, my precious.
NashvilleJeff
Gonna be eyes watching tons of singles ripped by terrified infielders, doubles and triples scorched off walls, and a plethora of homers gathered as souvenirs by grateful (opposing) fans.
NashvilleJeff
Should get a bet down that Smith’s WS streak ends this season.
NashvilleJeff
…..and why did the Royals pay him so much? Don’t they have any arms on the farm that project to provide the same or slightly better performance that Smith will? Minimum ML salary kids all day long over this guy.
benhen77
Same reason they signed Chapman last season. Flip him at the deadline,and you’ve bought yourself a prospect for a couple mil.
Sadface
And if clubs buy into the superstition that Will Smith is the key to winning a championship, then maybe they might get a higher class of prospect from whatever contenting club believes that.
cuffs2
Every arm in their farm system that can help has already been called up. The Royals need to buy a bullpen so they don’t call up anyone else who isn’t ready. The team is building for 2026. This year 72 to 75 wins is a step forward. In 2025 80 to 90 wins would be a target. Will Smith buys time for the kids in the minors to develop. Expect the Royals to sign more relievers.
TrumboRedux
Plenty of Pikers willing to take that bet Nashville!!! Hahah
Probably "Rick hahn"
What about Jada?
El Chupacabra
You all know if Will Smith is any good at all this year, much will be made of his last three WS at the trade deadline.
baked mcbride
Jada’s in an open relationship with the rest of the Royals, so why not?!?!
Jacksson13
Guess we won’t be seeing Chris Rock at any Kansas City Royals games in 2024.
Tdat1979
He’s played for so many teams I don’t remember him starting out with the Royals.
astrosfanFF7
I’m seriously putting $10 on the Royals winning the World Series
mlbnyyfan
Smith will definitely be traded at the deadline as he goes for another WS win to make 4 in a row.
astrosfanFF7
Good point.