The Yankees are taking a chance on an ex-Blue Jays and Athletics infielder.
The New York Yankees have been one of the most active teams in baseball this offseason and made another move Monday.
New York has been linked to multiple superstars in free agency but made a depth move Monday to help add to the infield. The Yankees reportedly signed former Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics utility man Kevin Smith, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
“Free agent infielder Kevin Smith agrees to Yankees deal,” Heyman said. “Played in majors with Jays and A’s.”
Smith is a three-year big league veteran and has seen time at shortstop, third base, and left field throughout his young career. The 27-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Blue Jays.
The righty worked his way up the Toronto farm system and eventually made his big league debut in 2021 at 24 years old. He appeared in just 18 games and saw time at third base, shortstop, and left field and hit one home run and drove in one run. He collected just three hits in the 18 games.
Smith was traded to Oakland in 2022 in a deal centered around star slugger Matt Chapman. The young infielder appeared in just 47 games in 2022 and 49 in 2023. Overall, he slashed .182/.218/.314 in 96 games with the Athletics and hit seven home runs, and drove in 24 runs.
Landing Smith may not be a big splash for the Yankees, but it never hurts to add more big-league depth.