1:00pm: Smith is opting out, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. He was scratched from today’s lineup, so it doesn’t seem as though the Yankees plan on selecting his contract.
10:33am: First baseman Dominic Smith will have the ability to opt out of his minor league deal with the Yankees if he’s not added to the 40-man roster (or, presumably, informed that he will be added prior to Opening Day) by the end of the day, reports SNY’s Andy Martino.
Smith joins a few dozen other veterans who’ll have the potential to opt out of their non-roster deals this weekend. Unlike the bulk of that group, Smith is not an Article XX(b) free agent who had uniform opt-out dates in his contract by default; while he has the requisite six-plus years of MLB service, he did not finish the 2024 season on a major league roster or injured list.
The 29-year-old Smith has had a productive camp with the Yankees. He’s tallied 38 plate appearances and gone 11-for-37 (.297) with three home runs and a double. He’s also yet to draw a walk but has been credited with a sacrifice fly, leading to an oddball small-sample batting line with an OBP that’s lower than his batting average: .297/.289/.568.
Smith is in the running to serve as a left-handed bat off the bench or perhaps even a more prominent role in the DH spot, with Giancarlo Stanton ticketed for the injured list. Both Smith and fellow lefty hitter Ben Rice have turned in strong performances this spring. Rice is hitting .260/.339/.560 with five homers in 57 plate appearances. There’s room for both on the roster, given injuries to Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, but the club would face some decisions on its DH and/or bench mix if they can get everyone healthy.
Smith spent the bulk of the 2024 season with the Red Sox and played regularly while Triston Casas was injured. He made a late cameo with the Reds, taking 29 plate appearances for Cincinnati. Between those two clubs, he slashed a respectable, if unspectacular .233/.313/.378 with six homers and 22 doubles in 307 plate appearances.
A former first-round pick and top prospect with the crosstown Mets, Smith looked to be breaking out back in 2019-20 when he slashed .299/.366/.571 in 139 games between those two seasons. He struggled in 2021, ultimately revealing that he spent much of the season playing through a small tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. His bat has never fully recovered, however, as evidenced by a cumulative .241/.311/.360 batting line in the four years since that eye-opening stretch in 2019-20.
Smith isn’t the only non-roster veteran who could force the Yankees to make a 40-man roster move this weekend. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is widely expected to make the team as a member of the rotation, also has an opt-out tomorrow.
New York’s 40-man roster is currently full, but they have several candidates for the 60-day injured list. Gerrit Cole is a lock to be transferred there, as he’ll miss the season due to Tommy John surgery. Jonathan Loaisiga, recovering from an internal brace operation last April, is targeting a May or June return and is another candidate. Reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil suffered a lat strain in early March and is projected to miss a total of roughly three months, making him another obvious candidate. Placing two of that trio on the 60-day IL would open roster space for Carrasco and Smith, should the Yankees ultimately opt to carry both on the Opening Day roster.
I think Dom makes the team, especially with Stanton being down. He would do well as a lefty at Yankee Stadium.
I think Cody is going to have a great year. He’s looked really solid in spring training. If he stays healthy he’s going to thrive in 2025
If…. NYY has a lot riding on “ifs”. What else is new…?
178 is,
If “Ifs” and “Buts” were candy and nuts we’d all have a Merry Christmas
Hahahahahha
Open seeing this all year, in that even before spring training. He’s due for a resurgence, he’s been a really good player when he was healthy. I think we’re about to reap the benefits of it, and we will need him with the absence of Stanton and Cole and everyone else
There are worse guys that could come off the bench, so yeah with you here. Carry him and Rice, send Escarra to AAA.
I think they rather keep Escarra as a c to allow more AB’s for Rice. With Smith opting out it appears that Shewmake will make the roster.
I think Ben Rice gets the DH spot.
He’ll get reps at C and 1B as well. Gotta preserve Goldy.
things would be so much simpler if rice played a passable first base the fact that they might carry smith tells me they don’t think rice can get there
if only he could hit consistently during the regular season, things would be so much better. He’s still a rookie so we’re about to see. Maybe he will be a sleeper player for us hopefully. I don’t mean sleepy as in Boone who sits and watches the team collapse before he gets off the bench to do something when it’s too late.
@Mad I think so, too, though with Dom able to also play the outfield in a pinch there’s some value there. Rice’s catching ability makes him an ideal back up there, and both can back up 1st obviously. So I’d take Dom over Escarra.
I’m not so sure. If Rice is your starting DH (he should be) you probably need to carry an actual backup catcher.
Escarra has looked really solid this spring, hit in AAA last year and plays good catcher defense. He can also play both the positions Smith plays. 1B/CO.
The roster just feels clunky with Smith.
Starting DH/C/1B – Rice – LHH
C/1B/OF – Escarra – LHH
1B/OF – Smith – LHH
OF – Grisham – LHH
IF – Peraza (also out of options) – RHH
I’d rather take someone like Pablo Reyes who can play everywhere and has hit lefties well in his career.
Yes Dom stays, other players have options to go back to AAA. He’s finally healthy.
Rice.
Dom would be redundant. They’ll have Rice and Escarra as lefty bats. Reyes will be surprise on the bench. Righty bat.
Looks like Dom opted out. Pretty sure he’ll find a team.
Yes. He opted out because he was told he wasn’t going to be added. Had a good ST, so he’ll get a job.
Dom has ML level street cred. Guys like Rice, Escarra and Shewmake don’t. I’d rather have him on the opening day roster then them.
What the hell is “street cred?” Smith has been a below average player his entire career. We know what he is and it’s not good. At least Rice offers upside. Something Smith doesn’t have..
There is no justification for anyone giving this guy playing time. End of story.
“There is no justification”…I think we both agree that Dom is not a very good all around baseball player. That being said, he plays decent defense at 1b and by all accounts is an all around good guy and clubhouse presence.
I do believe that Dom is more than good enough to be a spring training and emergency, injury fill-in guy. I have to admire the perseverance, dedication and drive of guys like Dom Smith and do hope he succeeds.
MLB – Dom essentially carried the Sox at 1B when Casas went down last year. Agree with you on him being able to find a spot.
Another 1st round (11th) pick shot to hell. Ahahahahahaha!
Silly take is silly.
After the season starts I’m no longer talking contract. If teams want me, they’d better sign or extend me now.
Who are you god? Far from it! That’s not the way it works.
10 yrs+ or I walk and test free agency.
I was not a Dom Smith fan when he was with the Mets. He though gets my support (for what it’s worth ..) as his Boston stats don’t tell the full story. He contributed his share of key hits and saved the staff and his infield teammates with much better than I expected defense.
The prototypical “good enough” 1B last year. Lol, I remember more rally killing at bats than key hits, but he was fine. Seems like a good dude, but now we hope he pops up every at bat.
Good luck to him on the open market or in Scranton. Ben Rice is smashing the ball and should get most of the DH starts. You can always find the next Dom Smith if you need a warm body.
If he doesn’t break camp, I doubt Dom accepts a minor league assignment. He’s 29 and healthy.
Nothing personal but he won’t be missed.
Neither do the Yankees right now.
He’s already linked with Boston again. Not a perfect fit but it’s what is being reported.
Ben Rice is one of those rare situations where you hear a lot of talk of a guy putting on muscle during the off season and then you can really see the results in the numbers.
Rice could be a legitimate first base/back up catcher option as part of a platoon of starters.
Dominic Smith is a nice bonus piece/off the bench/spot starter that will give a team better than no production, better than no defense– but that’s about it. He’s kind of the quintessential Quadruple-A / borderline major leaguer.
Meh.
He’s pretty redundant with Rice around. He probably can get more playing time elsewhere.
“Pretty redundant”..I was thinking the same thing. I did not believe that both Rice and Dom Smith would make the roster, although I was hoping at least one of them would.
I don’t believe the Yankees ever gave Dom’s ability to “play” the outfield any credibility or consideration. Unfortunately, Dom’s outfield “prowess” is on par with his hitting ability.
I dont really understant this kind of contract and why they havent been modified yet. I mean why they dont change the clauses to be able to opt out later, like June, or if they get a major contract elsewhere?
Being Free at the start of the season sounds worse than being in a minor but having practice and even some playtime, imo of course
I’m sure Dom was told he wasn’t going to make the Big League roster and he wanted to pursue other avenues to the Major Leagues.
One can structure a minor league contract for daily opt-outs through S.T. and during the season if they wanted to. No rules needs to be modified. Being free allows someone like Dom to sign a MiLB deal with another team which may have a better path to MLB playing time. He now knows where he stands in the Yankees’ depth chart.
See ya Dom!
Was really hoping Dominic would have been selected. Who else needs a first baseman?
Pirates?
They passed on him last year and would have to bump some folks from the 40 man roster if they select him this year. I think they are focused on starting the season with Stewart. You never know.
The Padres when they trade Arraez.
Yeah sorry Dom, we hardly knew you. I guess were too left handed now? Smh
Given all the Yankees injuries and holes and how he’s played during spring training, this says a lot about how much the Yankees don’t want Dominic Smith lol.
I mean look at his stats. Higher BA than OBP. So his ST was mostly luck and teams know it. A couple balls aren’t hits and he is hitting .240 with a .238 OBP.
I can see a lot of these commenters evaluating their co-workers the same exact way:
Ken, he’s a good kid, works hard, put on some muscle, didn’t show much on the scanners last year, but I’m sure he’ll get it…
Don, that guy came into the office with high recommendations, but he just couldn’t get those boxes scanned in good time time and really killed project momentum. They sent him down to the warehouse a few times and he was okay, but then they brought him back to the office and he was meh. Six years man, gotta cut him loose cuz he’ll never make it in the data warehousing biz…
Not enoughroster spots to carry a 1B-only guy. Yankees need RHH more than LHH too
I’m glad there’s no chance he’s on the roster. He would have no place. Pablo Reyes will do his job from the right side of the plate, which is what the Yankees need.
Guessing Reyes (more positional flexibility)makes the roster with Smith out. I don’t see Shewmake making the team (as he has an option).
Escarra backs up at C which allows Rice to play regularly as the DH
Buhbye. I have no idea why there’s Yankee fans that want this man on our roster. Rice and escarra deserve it. With those 2, Grisham, peraza, I’d keep Pablo Reyes as the last 1
Smith’s opt-out isn’t just a roster decision—it’s a window into the future of roster flexibility and the tradeoff between depth and talent efficiency in the MLB. The real question: How will this trend play out as more teams try to squeeze value out of these marginal, one-dimensional roles?
“Presumably” has to come after an independent clause, not within it as this writer did.