Dom Smith re-signs with the Yankees on a minor league contract
Dom Smith has returned to the New York Yankees, with the team announcing Monday that they have re-signed the infielder on a minor league deal.
Smith shined during Spring Training with the Yankees, hitting three home runs, driving in 12 runs, and posting a .297 average. After opting out when he wasn’t added to the Opening Day roster, he has now returned to the organization and could get a call to the big leagues if an injury creates an opportunity.
The 29-year-old is an eight-year MLB veteran, spending six seasons with the New York Mets. Last year, he played for the Red Sox and Reds, hitting .233 with six home runs and 34 RBIs across 93 games.
The Yankees currently have plenty of depth at first base with Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice, and Cody Bellinger all capable of playing the position. With Giancarlo Stanton on the IL, Rice has taken over as the team’s primary designated hitter.
Smith will be a key depth piece for the Yankees
Since both Smith and Rice are left-handed hitters, it would be difficult for Smith to get at-bats as the designated hitter if Rice were to sit. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has used two different lineups to start the season, aiming to adjust based on matchups against left-handed pitchers.
Although Smith is unlikely to see significant playing time on the big league roster, his signing remains a valuable depth move in case the team needs him.
The Yankees are coming off a dominant series sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, where they hit 15 home runs—tying an MLB record for the most homers by a team in the first three games of a season. They now turn their attention to a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks starting Tuesday.
