Texas Rangers Offer Classy 'Thank You' To Departing Reliever
Texas Rangers saves leader Will Smith played a major role during the regular season of the club's first World Series title season, and for that, he'll always be remembered fondly in Arlington.
Smith, 34, signed a $5 million, one-year free-agent deal with the Kansas City Royals after leading the Rangers with 22 saves. The club tipped its cap to Smith on social media, thanking him for his contribution to the championship.
"Forever part of our first World Series Championship," the Rangers posted on social media. "Thank you, Will!"
It was an odd season for Smith, who was excellent for the first four months of the season. He had 22 saves, including five in five consecutive appearances in early August, before hitting a wall. In his last 17 appearances in the regular season, he was 1-4 with three blown saves and an 8.16 ERA. In that stretch, teams were batting .304 against him with two homers and 17 hits in 14.1 innings. In five postseason appearances (3.1 innings), he allowed four runs on three hits (including a homer) and three walks.
Smith returns to Kansas City, where he broke into the Majors in 2012.
The lefty has also pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros. Smith became the first player to win three consecutive World Series with three different teams after winning in 2021 with the Braves, in 2022 with the Astros, and the Rangers.
Smith had a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 55 to 17 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 57.1 innings in 2023.
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