Bullpen reinforcement
Sidearming righty Smith reaches deal on 2-year contract
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow didn’t leave the winter meetings empty-handed.
The reigning World Series champions made their first move of the offseason Wednesday in signing free-agent reliever Joe Smith to a two-year deal. The team didn’t disclose financial terms of the contract.
A sidearming righthander, Smith will provide a different look out of the Astros’ bullpen and offers manager A.J. Hinch another weapon, particularly against righthanded hitters.
Smith, 33, had a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings last season with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians. An 11-year veteran, he also has pitched for the Mets, Angels and Cubs.
Luhnow, Hinch and Smith will discuss the signing at a news conference Thursday morning at Minute Maid Park. Smith took his physical with the Astros on Wednesday in Houston.
The addition of Smith shouldn’t preclude the Astros from acquiring another bullpen arm this offseason. Their
roster still lacks a reliable lefthanded reliever.
With his sinker-slider combo, Smith has been especially effective against righties, having held them to a .546 OPS last season and a .587 OPS in his career. Despite a fastball that averages only 89 mph and his slider in the low 80s, he struck out a career-high 11.8 batters per nine innings in 2017. He walked a career-best 1.7 per nine. A run on relievers
The Astros agreed to terms with Smith after not meeting the asking price for various free-agent relievers who signed earlier at this week’s winter meetings. Among those to sign before Smith were righthander Brandon Morrow (Cubs), righthander Bryan Shaw (Rockies), righthander Tommy Hunter (Phillies) and lefthander Jake McGee (Rockies).
Shaw and McGee each reportedly received threeyear deals worth guarantees of $27 million. Morrow reportedly got two years and $21 million from the Cubs. Hunter received $18 million for a two-year deal.
“This winter meetings has been mostly about the relievers it seems like, most of the deals that have been done,” Luhnow said Wednesday afternoon shortly before departing the meetings’ site, Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, for his flight back to Houston. “They’re all getting compensated at a level that’s new for the industry.
“So it’s just a signal that being able to cover those innings after the starter comes out until the end of the game is ever important. We’ve known that. We made investments in (Luke) Gregerson and (Pat) Neshek three years ago, and we made a big trade for (Ken) Giles two years ago and continue to prioritize the bullpen. That’s not going to change.”
As the Astros’ roster stands, their go-to relief options in 2018 figure to be Giles, Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Joe Musgrove and Smith. Their bullpen could also feature the versatile Brad Peacock depending on the health of the rotation coming out of spring training. Each of the aforementioned pitchers throws from the right side. Watson still out there
Tony Watson is the best available free-agent option among lefthanded relievers. According to sources, the Astros have also discussed a potential reunion with Francisco Liriano, who spent the latter half of last season with the team.
When speaking Wednesday afternoon, Luhnow said he anticipated a busy rest of the calendar year. Because the Astros began their offseason behind after their World Series run and the market was slow to pick up, he equated the nature of this year’s winter meetings to a usual general managers’ meetings, which are held a month earlier.
“You get a feel for where everybody is and what people are looking for and what teams are looking for,” he said. “So I think the next couple weeks are going to be as busy as any late December that we’ve ever had. We’re going to keep working to try and improve the ballclub.”
On paper, Wednesday’s acquisition represents an upgrade to the Astros’ pen. Especially if Smith maintains the strikeout spike he experienced last season.
Smith, who is married to CBS college football and basketball sideline reporter Allie LaForce, broke into the majors in 2007 with the Mets, who drafted the Wright State product in the third round the year before. He has a career 2.97 ERA in 6242⁄3 innings plus five scoreless innings across three postseasons.
Smith finished last season with Cleveland, which acquired him from Toronto before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He was a part of the Cubs’ 2016 championship team but didn’t pitch for them in the playoffs.
The winter meetings wrap up Thursday with the Rule 5 draft, which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.