Rangers sign Will Smith to 1-year deal

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Rangers made main upgrades to their beginning rotation this offseason. Saturday, they turned their consideration to the bullpen.

Veteran nearer Will Smith signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract to affix the Rangers, reuniting with supervisor Bruce Bochy in a transfer each see as a win-win.

“I like old school managers,” mentioned Smith, who spent 2018 and 2019 with Bochy and the Giants.

“I’m kind of an older guy now. I get the computer stuff these days, but it’s refreshing to have a guy who trusts his gut sometimes. Sometimes it doesn’t go his way, but he can live with it and he answers the questions of why he didn’t do it.”

Rangers aid roles stay fluid, however it’s hardly a stretch to think about Smith pitching in high-leverage conditions. Bochy gave Smith his first shot as a full-time nearer in 2018, and Smith saved a then-career-high 34 video games for the Giants in 2019. Roles may very well be extra outlined in two weeks, Bochy mentioned.

“I think you see a guy who is going to be used late in the game in situations,” Bochy mentioned. “He’s arrange. He’s closed. Left-hander with good things. He provides you an amazing possibility in several roles. 

“He’s a guy who is not afraid to be put into any situation. He wants to be there. He wants to be the guy out there, trust me. He wants to be the guy who is trying to help this team win a ballgame. That’s his mindset. We’re fortunate to have been able to bring him into camp. It’s a great sign.”

“If they want me to, why not?” mentioned Smith, who threw a bullpen session Saturday morning.

José Leclerc gave the impression to be the highest nearer candidate coming into camp after going 0-3 with seven saves and a 2.83 ERA following his June return from Tommy John surgical procedure. Joe Barlow, one other nearer candidate, had 13 saves final season.

Leclerc skilled neck tightness earlier this week that brought on him to cancel plans to play for the Dominican Republic within the World Baseball Classic, however Bochy mentioned the neck challenge had no bearing on the choice to signal Smith.

Smith, 33, blossomed as a more in-depth beneath Bochy, recording 14 saves after shifting to the ninth-inning function in June 2018. Smith adopted that along with his 34-save season in San Francisco earlier than signing a three-year, $39 million contract with Atlanta as a free agent.

He had a career-high 37 saves for Atlanta in 2021 and closed a Major League-high 60 video games. Smith was 2-0 with six saves in 11 appearances within the playoffs, together with two saves within the World Series victory over Houston. He cut up final season with Atlanta and Houston, combining for 5 saves and a 3.97 ERA in 65 appearances.

“We have talked about Will for a while,” Bochy mentioned. “I feel it was an amazing job by [general manager Chris Young] having the ability to signal him. He’s a man who has executed plenty of nice issues within the sport.

“I know the person. He’s a great teammate. He’s going to help this bullpen. We’re fortunate to have been able to bring him into camp. He’s a winner. You have to take the ball from him.”

Smith, 31-34 with 91 saves and a 3.59 ERA in 10 Major League seasons, mentioned his expertise as a setup man for Francisco Rodriguez in Milwaukee in 2014-15 helped whet his want for late-game motion.

“The ninth inning can be a little crazy sometimes,” Smith mentioned. “I got lucky as a young guy, setting up for Francisco Rodriguez in Milwaukee. I’d have conversations with him every night, of how our innings went. Why we did this. Why we did that. I don’t know if I’ve always thought along those lines, just because he was always in my back pocket talking about it. But I enjoy doing it.”

Smith has been on two consecutive World Series-winning groups, and he mentioned his temporary view of the Rangers final season was encouraging.

“You could tell they had something brewing here, something going on,” Smith mentioned. “They looked like they got along and meshed well together, which I think is a huge key to winning. You have to enjoy being around each other. Hopefully I can keep that streak going.”