According to sources, the former Texas Rangers left-handed reliever will join the Royals on a one-year, $5 million contract. Smith made history this postseason by becoming the first player in history to win three World Series in a row on three separate teams. The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to earn their first championship.
The Rangers bested the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to win their first title in franchise history.
Smith, 34, made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012. Since then, he’s bounced around the league, making stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Texas. Last season, Smith recorded a team-high 22 saves with the Rangers, but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 55:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 57 1/3 innings.
During the postseason, Smith had a 10.80 ERA in five games. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out four batters. Texas seemed content with letting Smith walk in free agency after signing former Braves pitcher Kirby Yates to a one-year deal. Yates found his groove down in Atlanta after back-to-back season-ending injuries, posting a 3.28 ERA, which was better than any Rangers reliever.
Arlington’s bullpen arms need to be replaced. Last season, the Rangers placed 24th in bullpen ERA (4.77), going 30-for-63 (47.7 percent) in save chances. “Improving our bullpen is a priority for us, and we’re making progress,” Rangers GM Chris Young said at the Winter Meetings. Texas has only signed one player this summer, Yates.
