After signing Cionel Perez just days ago, the Nationals have signed another veteran reliever to an incentive-laden minor league contract. This time Paul Toboni and the Nationals drafted Drew Smith, a mainstay in the Mets bullpen for several years. Smith performed well in the Mets bullpen from 2021 to 2024 but was sidelined last season by a Tommy John injury.
However, he should be ready to go immediately. The surgery was in July 2024, so a lot of time has passed. This is Smith’s second Tommy John, so he doesn’t look like his old self. If he does bounce back, $1.75 million could be a bargain.
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When Smith was with the Mets, he was known for his swings and misses. His fastball velocity is around 95 mph, and he has a great feel for spin. Smith throws a cutter, slider, curveball and the occasional changeup to go along with his lively warmup pitch. He can be susceptible to hard contact, but he can make up for it with swings and misses.
Earlier this offseason, I actually had Smith as an under-the-radar potential target. I’m impressed with his career 3.48 ERA and his ability to create miracles. Toboni also seemed impressed by the skills.
Spring training will be huge for Smith, though. He needed to prove that his stuff was still intact after a second major surgery. There are some examples of pitchers who have had success after a second Tommy John surgery, but there are also many examples of pitchers who have had a difficult time recovering from a second surgery. Hopefully Smith can be part of that former group.
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Importantly, he will be ready to go in no time. There was optimism that he could return at the end of the Mets season, but he just didn’t make it. Considering how far away he is from surgery, this offseason could be relatively normal for Smith.
Due to his injury status, Smith is less likely than Cionel Perez to break away from the team. However, there may be more to his ability to generate scent. It was another valuable dart throw from Toboni. Smith will only be a depth arm for Rochester if he doesn’t look like the same pitcher. However, if those things do return, he could become a valuable veteran addition to the Nats bullpen.
Smith is 32 years old, and if he fully recovers from injury, he should still have gas left. He also provides some experience and veteran leadership to a Nationals bullpen that doesn’t have a lot of experience in that area.
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If Smith can match his career ERA of 3.48, that would be a great pick. There’s no risk, either, since this is a minor league deal. I like the little bullpen moves Toboni has made over the past few days.
