Will Smith Leaving Texas Rangers, Signs With AL Central Club
Will Smith is headed back to the Kansas City Royals.
The former Texas Rangers left-handed reliever is returning to the Royals on a one-year deal worth $5 million, according to reports Smith made history this postseason after becoming the first player ever to win three consecutive World Series on three different teams.
The Rangers bested the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to win their first title in franchise history.
Smith, 34, made his MLB debut with the Royals back in 2012. Since then, he's bounced around the league, making stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Texas.
Last season, Smith recorded a team-high 22 saves with the Rangers, but struggled down the stretch and fell out of the closer role ahead of the playoffs. He finished the year with a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 55:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 57 1/3 innings.
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Will Smith in action during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.
During the postseason, Smith had a 10.80 ERA in five games. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out four batters.
Texas seemed content with letting Smith walk in free agency after signing former Braves pitcher Kirby Yates to a one-year deal. Yates found his groove down in Atlanta after back-to-back season-ending injuries, posting a 3.28 ERA, which was better than any Rangers reliever.
Change is needed among the Arlington bullpen arms. Last season, the Rangers ranked 24th in bullpen ERA (4.77) and finished 30-for-63 (47.7 percent) in save opportunities.
“Improving our bullpen is a priority and we're making progress,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said at the Winter Meetings.
Yates is the only player Texas has signed this offseason.
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