Infielder Kevin Smith has reached an agreement with the New York Yankees, as indicated by a photo he shared on X featuring a child, presumably himself, donning Yankees attire with the caption “Headed Home for 2024.” Born and raised in East Greenbush, New York, Smith, a client of The Bledsoe Agency, played high school baseball there. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman confirms the deal, reported by MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos to be a minor league contract. Credit goes to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News for sharing Smith’s post.
At 27, Smith spent the last two years with the Athletics following a trade from the Blue Jays in the Matt Chapman deal. Despite accumulating 333 plate appearances in the majors over the past three years with both teams, he struggled, batting only .173/.215/.301. His final option year was utilized in 2023, leading to the Athletics non-tendering him, even though arbitration eligibility was two years away.
However, Smith exhibited strong performance in the minor leagues, maintaining this trend in 2023. In 183 Triple-A plate appearances, he boasted an impressive .324/.372/.653 batting line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, resulting in a wRC+ of 137. Additionally, he stole nine bases and showcased defensive versatility by playing second base, third base, and shortstop for the Aviators.
Although Smith’s shortstop skills in the majors have received mixed reviews, he has earned positive assessments at third base. He has also seen limited action in left field and first base.
The Yankees currently project Anthony Volpe at shortstop and DJ LeMahieu at third base. While there have been trade rumors involving Gleyber Torres, potentially opening up second base for LeMahieu, Torres remains on the roster. The team also has utility/depth options in Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jeter Downs. If Smith manages to secure a spot on the roster, his service time of one year and 63 days allows the Yankees to retain him beyond the 2024 season if they wish.