Dominic Smith has become a free agent after triggering the opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Yankees, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. Smith wasn’t an Article XX(b) free agent with a built-in June 1 opt-out date in any minor league contract, but his deal still apparently contained some opt-out flexibility if he hadn’t been called up to New York’s active roster.
This is the second time in three months that Smith has opted out of a minors deal with the Yankees, as he also opted out of his initial contract near the end of Spring Training but re-signed with the club just after Opening Day. Smith has since been playing at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .255/.333/.448 with eight home runs over 189 plate appearances. Smith has primarily been a left fielder, with a good chunk of playing time at first base and DH and a handful of games in right field.
Despite his decent numbers and his defensive flexibility, it isn’t hard to understand why the Yankees haven’t felt the need to bring Smith to the majors. Even with Giancarlo Stanton missing the entire season to date, Ben Rice capably stepped into the regular DH role, and Paul Goldschmidt has been excellent at first base. The outfield picture is also crowded between Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Jasson Dominguez, and Trent Grisham surging into more playing time than expected due to some unexpectedly big production at the plate. With Stanton slowly working his way back to good health, the situation will only get more crowded in the Bronx barring future injuries, so another new contract might not be in the cards for Smith if he wants a clearer path to Major League playing time.
A former top prospect and near-breakout star during his time with the Mets from 2017-22, Smith’s production has tailed off and he has become something of a journeyman since leaving Queens. Smith has been a part of six different organizations since January 2023, and has hit .247/.321/.370 over 893 PA with the Nationals, Red Sox, and Reds.
I gather these opt-outs were built in for June 1.
I honestly thought he was long gone already. Good luck.
Back to the Red Sox.
Can’t be any worse than our other options, might as well give him a call.
The current option, Abraham Toro, has a 128 OPS+. Romy Gonzalez is almost back, and has a 120 OPS+. Both, are better options than, Smith, a career 97 OPS+ player. Oh, and they both are better defensively than Smith (Negative 27 OOA).
Do you even follow the Red Sox? Production and defense, from first base, have both improved since Casas went out.
Are you serious?
Toro has a career OPS+ of 83 and strikes out 3 times as much as he walks. Houston, Seattle, Milwaukee, and Oakland were all happy to let him go. But yeah, 50 nice at-bats for the Red Sox means he’s a stud and our first base problem is solved. Real hard hitting stuff there, Salvi!
Romy Gonzalez is a fine utility player. I don’t mind giving him reps at first. There is also a significant chance he will be needed at other spots around the infield throughout the rest of the season, so no I don’t think it’s a wise plan to count on him as an every day option and assume they don’t need to do anything else (at least not every day at 1B).
Never said Smith is some All Star or something so I don’t know what you’re so upset about. The Red Sox organizational depth at first base is pathetic. What if Toro or Gonzalez get hurt again too? Why wouldn’t you want to have three potential band aids instead of two?
“Can’t be any worse than our other options”
Romy and Toro are both worlds better, and Noda, who’s playing 1B in Triple A is even better. Where would Smith even get ABs? As desperate as the Red Sox are, I doubt they will be interested.
As I have recently been lectured by websoulsurfer of whatever (a good post tho) OAA is not a good stat for 1B. I mean I’ve literally been saying the same thing for 3 years about every defensive metric at 1B but whatever. But even by the usual metrics which take into account a fairly small amount of what a 1B actually does there is disagreement about Smith at 1B. I used to think he was decent with the Mets. Haven’t seen him a ton.
Worlds better, based on what?
Smith has played in 693 career games and amassed 0.8 total WAR. Toro has played in 382 games and amassed 1.5 WAR – almost all of it in one season – despite a 7 year career. Gonzalez has taken 5 years to accumulate roughly a full season’s worth of playing time and has been worth a cumulative 0.5 WAR. All three of these guys are total nothingburgers, not sure why you are so intent on splitting hairs and acting like any of them are anything more than emergency organizational depth guys.
And Noda, really? He wasn’t even hitting his weight in the ridiculously hitter-friendly PCL, but sure, he can be the answer to all our problems too, based on having one nice week at Worcester.
If they can find room on the 40 man for NPCs like Noda, Nate Eaton, and Nick Burdi, I’m sure they can find room for a guy who has actual experience as a primary first baseman at the highest professional level.
That is enough of your insane takes, go argue with a wall.
Is that you Dominic Smith? Its gotta be, or maybe his publicist.
“Toro amassed 1.5 WAR – almost all of it in one season”
What about Smith’s WAR? 1.9 WAR accumulated during 2020 covid season. When half the league’s pitchers took the season off. Lol. I guess you put Toro’s career under the microscope, but not Smith’s.
So the rest of his career (ignoring the covid season), Smith accumulated NEGATIVE 1.1 WAR. So a replacement player can do better, which the Red Sox have plenty of. Yes, enough of the “insane talk”.
Okay Brilliant Mind, I’ll bite one last time.
I “put Toro’s career under a microscope but not Smith’s” because I am not arguing that Smith is anything special. He isn’t, and I know he isn’t. I have not once attempted to claim otherwise; there is nothing to examine. You’re the one out here acting like Abraham Toro is some freaking godsend from Valhalla. Based on what, exactly? Demonstrably, nothing he’s done in his career as a Major League Baseball player.
Alright, now I’m done. Enjoy arguing with that wall, bozo.
Rishi:
“OAA is not a good stat for 1B.”
Then what is?
Smith’s Career Defensive Numbers from multiple locations
——————-
Baseball Savant:
-27 OOA
-25 Run Value
Baseball Reference:
-4.8 DWar
Fangraph:
-12.5 UZR/150
-12 DRS
He’s a bad fielder plain and simple.
“Abraham Toro is some freaking godsend from Valhalla.”
I did? Really. Let me use your own words with one small change “I am not arguing that ‘Toro’ is anything special. He isn’t and I know he isn’t. I have not once attempted to claim otherwise.”
— My argument isn’t Toro. is “anything special” its that Smith sux. I didnt like him added last year, and I dont want him this year, especially considering all the other players available to the Red Sox this season (Toro, Romy, Campbell, Sogard, Noda, Grissom, Hickey). There’s no place for him. Let him suck somewhere else.
Play softball is a good option
Exactly my point. There isn’t one. Even if we look at scoops and include that as far as I know there is no stat including stretching. So as far as I am aware essentially every stat is looking as range and arm strength. And as my friend pointed out to me in our back and forth arm strength (while factoring in little to begin with) is bias here because most throws are underhand tosses to the pitcher. Range no doubt is a factor but almost all the action they get is on throws in the dirt or (even moreso) plays they are stretching to either get the bang bang play or to get a bad throw. And even if we factored in scoops a lot of times a bad 1B can’t stretch far so always is having to scoop everything.
“but almost all the action they get is on throws in the dirt or (even moreso) plays they are stretching to either get the bang bang play or to get a bad throw.”
No its not. The vast majority of action a first baseman gets is a simple throw that they can easily catch, and almost always do. Throws in the dirt, or stretches are far less common, and probably just as common as ball hit to them. So range factor is much more important than you describe.
Yes well I mean the average action that a 1B gets is action that any of them would handle. So I’m looking for what they do that actually stands out. Yea I agree it matters but it’s less than 50% of what they do. Many of the obvious best 1B are not painted that way by the metrics. And it’s specifically because they don’t have a lot of range. But very few 1B have much range. There are a few that do but even that is hard to measure because a lot of their range will come from pop ups (which is important but that’s not what most people are thinking of by range). So the difference (outside of a few guys) between the ones with poor range and good range is much smaller than it is at any other position. I would look at Freeman. He has little range but is an excellent 1B. His range is not bad but it’s so-so. But he routinely does splits to get to balls. It isn’t some small thing. He literally does it every game. And there are a lot of bang bang plays over there. The stretching is most important. It is not measured. There is a scoops stat and this is very helpful but even it is a bit bias as I’ve said because the average scoop could be avoided with a good stretch.
It’s not to bash the metrics and I agree that range is still important there. I trust the metrics at most positions but even in the OF it can be bias. Acuna doesn’t have great range but he has a cannon. But because of that people don’t run on him much. Most stats, or even all the public ones I know, will not point to that. So, as far as I know, he is usually painted as a tic below average. But if you watch him he obviously makes up for that with a 100 MPH arm that is very accurate. that is taken into account but most people never run on him anyway so he gets little credit for it.
Well its a big difference. If we eliminate all common plays, then what are we left with during a typical game:
– A few throws in the dirt
– A couple of plays that need a stretch
– A few groundballs
– A couple of popups, both fair and foul
– A couple of throws
Suddenly OOA, UZR, etc are represented by 50%, maybe even more of those plays. So those numbers do have value. And Im not alone in that belief. The two Gold Gloves last year Carloso Santana (14 OOA) and Christian Walker (13 OOA) led their leads in OOA.
So I dont agree its a “its not a useful stat”. Especially when several other stats from various sites back up the same point.
As I said before, I feel it is useful to a degree but you’ve made some really good points about stats usefulness and it’s opened my eyes a bit.
One last thing, the Acuna point you made, although true, is a factor that doesnt matter. You’d go mad thinking of all those factors. You can basically make that point on just about every player with an exceptional attribute. The best baserunners will get pitched out on, the catchers with the best arms wont be run on, gold glove third baseman isnt getting many bunts his way, the best power hitters will get an excess of low off-speed stuff, etc.
Those are good points too. And I thank you for not simply going off on me like most people. I mean I also know I write a lot which annoys people.
you as well, good talk, lets have more.
Smith has an OPS+ of 87 from 2021-24, never exceeding 97.
Right, he’s basically a walking definition of the term replacement player. But we’re already in “throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks” mode, The more pieces of crap you have to throw, the better you tend to do at that game.
There’s no ABs available. Boston and Worcester are full. And unless we’re talking about a major upgrade via a trade, I’d rather not add a player that would fall somewhere around 7th best option available. Red Sox would be better off giving ABs to younger players until they decide to go out and obtain a quality 1B.
The more pieces of crap you have to throw
==========================
Sure, if you want minor league depth, you can pick up everyone. But I wouldn’t start him over anyone we currently have.
I didn’t say you have to bring him in and make him the every day starter. Everyone is blowing my comments way out of proportion. What I have said, and maintain as my point, is:
1. Our present options are not good
2. Smith is not particularly better than our present options, but is also not particularly worse
3. Given some of the total randos they have at the bottom of the 40 man roster, there is room to keep him on the 40 man and have him hang out with the WooSox
4. That way if Toro and/or Gonzalez get hurt or revert to their career norms of being borderline worthless, you can run him out there and see if you can manage to squeeze any quality ABs out of Smith
5. If the opportunity for him to play arises and he also sucks, then great, you’re out nothing. Cut bait and then you can really start scraping the bottom of the barrel with random guys plucked off the farm or waivers. You’re not going to get any better production from that group anyway so there is zero opportunity cost to giving a vet like Smith a look first before you dip into this pool.
IN CONCLUSION, as I originally said much more concisely and shouldn’t have had to type two thousand words explaining to everybody, “might as well give him a call.”
I’ll say it again, for the third or fourth time. Where does he play??? Boston or Worcester? Who loses those ABs? Or do we put him in with Ted Williams.
All players need playing time to be prepared. The Red Sox have plenty of (mediocre) depth and he’s not as good as any of the players mentioned. Are you intentionally being obtuse?
I’d bet he goes to Houston. We definitely have at bats available for a LH outfielder/DH with Yordan down for another 6-8 weeks. For those talking retirement, MLB requires 10 years of service as a player/coach. So he’s not retiring anytime soon. MILB time does not count.
At 30, it’s time for Dom to hang em up and move on to coaching or front office work, unless he wants to spend a year or three as an organization player.
He should probably give the Mexican Baseball League a shot see if he can’t work on his swing and maybe squeeze out some years and money out of an MLB contract.
Not sure why everyone is always clamoring for guys to retire. If he’s still chasing the dream, that’s admirable to me. I’d hang on until they kicked me out. There are plenty of teams out there that could put Smith on their roster. The Yankees aren’t one of them given the way Goldy has hit. But he’ll catch on somewhere.
I don’t care whether or not retires. It’s just obvious that he’s risen as high as he can.
In choosing the Yankees, Smith gambled that Goldschmidt would continue to decline (as had the past two seasons) and that Rice would struggle as he did on ‘24.
Unfortunately, Goldy found the fountain of youth while Rice made better and more consistent contact. Those positive Yankee trends simply blocked Smith’s path to the Bronx.
@rct I don’t get these people either.
Dom Smith has made $10M by 29. He can do whatever the hell he wants.
And mostly what he wants is tacos, pizza and donuts
Torpedo Bat: Suggesting that a player might be done is not “clamoring” for the guy to retire.
I couldn’t care less if he keeps playing in MLB or the minors for one more or 10 more years. It will have no effect on my life.
“it’s time for Dom to hang em up” = you clamoring for him to retire. No one asked you for your thoughts on his employment desires, yet here you are telling him to retire. Clearly you do care since *you* brought it up. This isn’t a poll on whether or not he should retire. It’s a story about *him* choosing to opt out of the Yankees because he doesn’t have a shot with them. For someone who is constantly pedantic towards everyone on this board, you should really choose your words more carefully.
rct: It’s a suggestion. You should think more carefully before making assumptions about people and putting words in their mouths or misinterpreting their words.
You should never ASSUME, because when you ASSUME, you make ASSES of U and ME.
@Blue This isn’t a one-off thing for you. It’s a pattern for your comment postings.
Back to the mets
The Mets have no room for journeymen like him.
Back to the Reds
Open up at bats for the younger guys. Scranton has way too many Quad A hitters and 30 plus year old pitchers.
He wasn’t really in anyone’s way unless they feel that Jones is ready for AAA. He’s improved well enough at SWB to get a shot.
Memo to SF Giants….
You called it. He signed today with SF.
Smith needs to call it quits.
Not an MLB caliber player.
White Sox could use him
“”White Sox could use”…No thanks. We only want useful players we can possibly flip at the trading deadline. Thanks for asking, but that’s a hard “no” on Dom Smith. – The Whitesox “brain” trust.
Thinking the 18-40 White Sox couldn’t use Smith when they just had to send down their starting 1b to the minors because he stunk so bad is crazy. Of course the White Sox could use him.
Padres ?
Never thought I’d see Dominic Smith and defensive flexibility in the same sentence.
only comment worth a lick here today
There could be a role for him with the orioles or the Rockies
AJ Preller should take a chance!
Why? He won’t be better than Arraez.