The Yankees re-signed Smith to a minor-league contract Monday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports. Smith exercised the opt-out clause in his previous minor-league contract with the Yankees earlier this month. After being unable to find a major-league job elsewhere, he's ultimately decided to take another minor-league pact from the Yankees and will provide veteran depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Dominic Smith
1B
Unlock the latest Cincinnati Reds news — direct to your inbox.
Status
ACTIVELatest Dominic Smith news
Other Reds Players
Birthdate
6/15/1995 (29)
Status
FA
HT/WT
6'0", 224 lbs
Draft Info
2013: Rd 1; Pk 11 (NYM)
Birthplace
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Position
1B
Career History
New York Yankees
2025-2026
(1 season)
Cincinnati Reds
2024-2025
(1 season)
Boston Red Sox
2024-2024
(1 season)
Chicago Cubs
2024-2024
(1 season)
Washington Nationals
2023-2024
(1 season)
New York Mets
2017-2023
(6 seasons)
The Yankees re-signed Smith to a minor-league contract Monday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports. Smith exercised the opt-out clause in his previous minor-league contract with the Yankees earlier this month. After being unable to find a major-league job elsewhere, he's ultimately decided to take another minor-league pact from the Yankees and will provide veteran depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees released Smith on Monday. Smith will head to the open market in search of a new opportunity after exercising the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Yankees shortly after being informed that he wouldn't be included on the Opening Day roster. The 29-year-old first baseman logged 307 plate appearances in the majors last season between Boston and Cincinnati, producing a .233/.313/.378 slash line with six home runs and 34 RBI.
Smith exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. The Yankees now have 24 hours to either add Smith to their roster or release him. Smith has looked good this spring, posting an .857 OPS with three home runs this spring, but the Yankees have more of a need for right-handed bench bats than lefty ones, which could work against the 29-year-old.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned during an in-game interview on YES Network on Thursday that Smith is one of the lefty batters New York is considering using at DH during the regular season in the wake of the news that Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is set to miss extended time. Smith isn't on the Yankees' 40-man roster, so he's not a certainty to break camp with the big club. However, he's helped his case with a strong spring during which he's slashing .294/.294/.647 with two home runs and seven RBI through six games. Boone noted that Aaron Judge won't necessarily log the bulk of the work at DH in Stanton's stead, and Smith was one of the players -- along with Ben Rice and J.C. Escarra -- mentioned as a candidate to log at-bats at the position.
Smith went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League win over St. Louis. Smith homered for a second consecutive contest, though those are his only two hits through eight exhibition at-bats. The veteran first baseman doesn't have a history of hitting for power -- his career high is 12 long balls in 586 plate appearances with Washington in 2023 -- so his spring power stroke shouldn't be read into too much. Smith signed with the Yankees on a minor-league deal in mid-January and isn't expected to break camp with the big club.
The Yankees signed Smith to a minor-league deal Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Smith opted to enter free agency after being DFA'd by the Reds in early September. He appeared in 93 major-league games between Boston and Cincinnati during the 2024 regular season and posted a .691 OPS with six home runs, 34 RBI and 33 runs across 307 plate appearances. Smith will likely begin the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes/-Barre but could be called up to the big club if Paul Goldschmidt or Ben Rice were to miss time.