The Yankees are in agreement with first baseman Dominic Smith on a minor league contract, reports Jack Curry of the YES Network. Presumably the Roc Nation Sports client will get a non-roster invite to MLB camp.
Smith will vie for a big league roster spot for a ninth consecutive season. He has spent more than half that time in New York as a member of the Mets. Smith was a top prospect who posted huge offensive numbers in a limited sample between 2019-20. His bat has markedly tailed off since that point. Smith struggled between 2021-22, leading the Mets to move on. He had a middling .254/.326/.366 showing over a career-high 586 plate appearances with the Nationals the following year.
The 29-year-old divided last season between the Red Sox and Reds. He got a decent amount of run as Boston’s starting first baseman while Triston Casas was injured. Smith hit .237/.317/.390 through 278 plate appearances with the Sox. Boston released him in mid-August when Casas made his return from the injured list. Smith inked a big league contract with Cincinnati shortly thereafter. He only got into nine games, hitting .192 without a home run over 29 trips before the Reds cut him loose. He finished the season with a cumulative .233/.313/.378 slash.
New York signed Paul Goldschmidt to take over as the primary first baseman. They’ve got Giancarlo Stanton penciled in at designated hitter. That gives Smith an uphill battle to cracking the MLB roster out of camp, though Stanton has a lengthy injury history. Ben Rice is on the 40-man roster as a lefty-hitting first baseman, so Smith would probably need to outperform him during Spring Training to have a shot at an Opening Day job.
OMG OMG NO NO NO!!! WTF!!!!!
Someone get this kid a doctor.
It’s a minor league contract for depth nothing more so relax
Smith’s time in Boston surprised me as it was better than his stats show. He contributed key hits at times and his glove definitely saved what was at the time the worst defense in the league. I was not a Smith fan but he turned me into one and is great insurance. Just don’t expect a miracle bat and he’ll be fine if called upon.
Time to mute this troll. Ciao, 178! You offer nothing to any conversation other than hate with zero understanding or facts. No one needs to add your comments to their day.
Buddy you need a chill pill. It’s a non guaranteed spring training invite. It means virtually nothing lol.
Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Mlbnyy ain’t no quitter, bro.
Dear MLB trade,
Could you please do a write-up on Jose Iglesias? I haven’t heard anything about him this winter, and he makes way too much sense for any team looking for an infielder. Thanks.
Knicks
Actually Jose Iglesias was very good last year. Guys like Iglesias and Solano are helpful. Dom Smith is a wonderful guy but not helpful as baseball depth IMHO.
Yanks had an issue at 1b last year. It’s honestly good to store this guy at Triple A as insurance.
@mlb
Bro, how many teams have a .300/.400/.500 guy stashed in AAA. Is that a 3rd option? None. Stop harping on it. You do know that the minor league affiliates are trying to win games, too, right? If Ben Rice gets called up, then they have another option.
@mlb
Bro, how many teams have a .300/.400/.500 guy stashed in AAA that’s a 3rd option? None. Stop harping on it. You do know that the minor league affiliates are trying to win games, too, right? If Ben Rice gets called up, then they have another option.
I know you post for reactions, but haven’t the Yankees made it to the post season pre-Soto? Looking back, they have lost in other ALCS games being a game or two from the World Series, with the same type of hitters.
Not sure how they are “nothing” without Soto
I liked Jose his one year with the Reds. I wouldn’t complain if they brought him back as a depth piece, but they are kind of set at shortstop for a couple years at least!
Enjoy Him Running. Might be the only person worse than Stanton at running!
It’s too bad he doesn’t run like talented free agents any time the Blue Jays try and offer a contract
Came to read about baseball, saw a slam dunk instead!
Faster than Tellez or Winker. Faster than Vogelbach and he might be available for the Yankees, too!
Bartolo Colon would like a word with you.
If he can even get to me!!!
Where he’s going, he won’t need legs bc it’s bombs all day over the short RF porch, baby.
There might be a few gigawatts of pop left in Dom yet lol
You never saw me run when I played in the minors. Catchers with bad knees can turn a gapper into a single faster than…nothing, actually.
They should change WAR to WADS. wins above Dom smith. Because he’s the most average ball player around. And I mean this as a compliment.
Can we please give Rice a chance
Rice a guaranteed, put-it-in-pen, bonafide Hall of Famer. We still talking about Jerry?
I thought Rice was the San Francisco treat
That was a little known prospect, his name was Rice Aroni.
@Gwynning – There’s always HOF Sam Rice
That guy needed anger management classes, he was always steamed
*Insert Jim Rice angry face meme*
@Gwynning – Ah, I went for the more obscure HOF Rice. He hit into less double plays and he scores lower on the Immaculate Grid.
And that Rice played with a Judge (Joe).
No one mentioned Del Rice.
Perhaps Ben’s Original Rice. I’m a Rice A Roni kinda guy myself.
Rice will probably be in AAA. They want to use him more as a C.
@Ya
What makes you say that? They have Wells. I can’t see them relegating him too bring a backup.
Theoretically, Rice could be backup catcher plus left-handed platoon at dH and/or 1B. That would get his bat in the line-up most days.
You gave Rice a chance and he hit .171/.264/.349 over 178 PA as a 25 year old, he is going to have to battle for another opportunity, Competition is good.
Aaron Judge didn’t hit his weight his rookie year.
Yankees off season continues downward. Any chance he can play 3B. haha
@mlb
Seriously, how can you be disappointed by the move this winter, or are you simply not a Yanks fan, and you’re just being annoying? I’m seriously curious.
Red Sox fans are cursed worst than Ruth lol! BDSM is the goat bro. Better player than Soto honestly.
BDSM means something different in San Diego… i think?!? What’s it mean here? Lol
Big Dom Smith Moment. He was a favorite in his time here. Look at his play on the wild pitch in Kansas City. Poetry in motion.
*wipes brow*
Whew!
“I tried to make a move,” Smith said.
Legit post-game remark, haha!
BDSM? I didn’t realize we were discussing Bauer.
Fenway
BDSM? Trevor Bauer just entered the conversation.
Roki Sasaki consolation prize
Yankees will have like 5 “qualified” first basemen options going into the season (Goldschmidt, Bellinger, DJLM, Rice and now Smith) and then will be forced to use some random other player out of position at first- mark my words.
My Pads had like 8 legitimate SSs last year but still found starts for Mason McCoy… long story short, ya never know!
@Trill – Cabrera saw some time at 1b last season.
Then 6, if he isn’t traded.
I hope this doesn’t mean Ben Rice is on the move.
It’s only been a minute, but Uncle Ben’s Rice is ready to move
He looked overmatched. Needs more AAA time.
@Yankees
.179/.263/.345 with 9 bb vs 42 KS. That was Judge in his first call up. Surely I’m not suggesting he’ll be as good as Judge but I saw something I like. His walk rate was great in his call-up at 11% and it was at 16% in the minors. He combined for 32 homes. If kind to see what he can become. Bringing in Holdy on a 1 year deal and starting him off in AAA makes sense. It’s a very young team with Wells, Volpe, Jazz and Dominguez breaking in. It made sense to bring in a vet. He’ll likely get the first call up if Goldy or Stanton are injured.
The Yankees believe in him and JDom. They opted to carry both in parts of the postseason roster to get them both a taste although they didn’t play.
The only scenario in which Smith makes the Yankees is if Goldschmidt or Stanton start the season on the IL. That said, like the Garrett Cooper signing with Atlanta, sometimes it’s not about going to a team that you will have roster spot but getting into camp so other teams can get a look at you
RSox
Respectfully, Garrett Cooper probably has a better than 33% chance of making the Opening Day roster as he can play a passable corner outfield, 1B or DH.
Are you sure he still can? Its been a few years since any team let him play OF in a meaningful game.
“Huge offensive numbers”….ummmmm what?
Not the worst move. He’s average with the glove? Liked his minor league bat. Insurance if PG goes down or soils the bed in spring training
Good signing, he’s been a Mets killer during his career
Great teammate.
Smith was actually with 4 organizations last year. Started as a NRI with the Cubs, then signed a AAA contract with Tampa with either opt-outs or an upward mobility clause, and then went to Boston and Cincinnati.
Camp body.
How bad must Anthony Rizzo feel right now?
I don’t think Rizzo had any expectation of returning even before Goldy signed.
Getting ready for his retirement announcement.
I’d say second to the Rays.
So LF is now JDom’s position to lose.
Good for Dom hope he sticks with the Yankees. Rice could be on the bench as the backup catcher
Good call. Almost forgot Cashman has said he sees him as a catcher first which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement with Wells now a full-timer.
@johnny
I can’t see them wasting his talent as a back up playing twice a week. And I can’t see him spending the majority of his time as catcher when Goldy is on a 1 year deal and there’s no guarantee they’ll sign someone next winter.
He’ll get reps between C and 1B and DH. Goldy is a perfect mentor for him so it’s not all that bad for him to benchwarm and observe.
Cashman is crushing it.
Hahaha
It’s amazing how a minor league signing can inspire such negative scrutiny and reaction. Like this is the cherry on top of their winter. I doubt they’ll be a press conference.
how in the holy hell is dom smith still in his 20’s?
Pure depth pickup. Non-roster invitee. Signals they see Rice as primary backup C/1B, stashing this guy at AAA just in case. Goldy’s old, Rice could falter again….
Funny thing is that even his .paltry 707 ops is better than what we had at 1b last year.
Insurance for a long season
It’s a complete depth move. I think you will see another left handed reliever and a outfielder added next. Smith won’t be relied upon moldy is 1b and bellinger,rice and DJL will all be ahead of him at 1b. My guess is he is released the end of april
This guy only hits Yankee pitching.
As a Redsox fan this is a solid signing. Was very solid
Yes, Stanton will be designated 60 day IL. He’ll play for two weeks, and poof he is gone. When his contract is up he will retire!
We just need him in the playoffs and World Series. He can take 120 days off during the season.