Cubs Reliever From 2016 World Series Champs Retires
A member of the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series championship season announced his retirement on Wednesday after 15 seasons in the Majors.
Joe Smith, a long-time reliever who played for eight different teams and hasn’t pitched since 2022 with the Minnesota Twins, announced his retirement through his representation at Excel Sports Management.
Smith only played one season with the Cubs, but it was that magical 2016 season as the Cubs won their first title in more than a century.
The Cubs acquired Smith in a deadline deal from the Los Angeles Angels, giving up a prospect, Jesus Castillo, to fortify their bullpen for the stretch run.
He pitched in 16 games for the Cubs, going 1-1 and finishing with a 2.51 ERA.
Unfortunately, an injury forced Smith to miss the final month of that regular season and he wasn’t able to pitch in the postseason. But he received a World Series ring for his time with the Cubs.
After Chicago, he moved on to Toronto, where he signed a one-year deal for the 2017 season.
Smith broke in with the New York Mets in 2007 and became a well-regarded right-handed reliever with a delivery that was between a sidearm and a submarine. It worked. Even though he was well-traveled he was always in demand. Along with the Mets, Angels, Cubs and Blue Jays, he also pitched for Cleveland, Houston, Seattle and Minnesota.
Among those he thanked in his statement was his wife, CBS and Turner Sports commentator Allie LaForce. He noted that he and his family made 29 moves in his pro career.
In 866 career appearances he went 55-34 with a 3.14 ERA. He recorded a sub-3.00 ERA in six seasons, including four straight from 2011-14. He recorded his career low 1.80 ERA with Houston in 2019.
He had 30 saves, threw 762.1 innings, struck out 666 and walked 254.
