Braves bolster bullpen with lefty Smith
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves made a big move to address their shaky bullpen Thursday, signing lefthanded reliever Will Smith to a three-year, $40 million contract.
The deal includes a $13 million club option for 2023, with a $1 million buyout.
The 30-year-old Smith went 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA and a career-best 34 saves for the San Francisco Giants in 2019 and made the All-Star team for the first time.
The NL East champion Braves were looking to upgrade the bullpen after going through several closers last season, including Luke Jackson, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon.
Smith is Atlanta’s fourth free-agent signing of the offseason but the first to change teams. The Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis, catcher Tyler Flowers and reliever Darren O’Day.
Smith received a $17.8 million qualifying offer from the Giants, who acquired him from Milwaukee at the trade deadline in 2016. Shortly before Thursday’s deadline to accept the offer, he agreed to the three-year deal with the Braves.
Atlanta will forfeit its third-highest pick in the 2020 amateur draft since Smith received a qualifying offer. San Francisco will receive an extra choice as compensation, likely around the 75th overall pick.
In other news:
• Pitcher Jake Odorizzi accepted a $17.8 million qualifying offer to stay with the Minnesota Twins and first baseman Jose Abreu took the same amount to remain with the Chicago White Sox.
Besides Smith, players who didn’t accept qualifying offers were pitchers Gerrit Cole (Astros), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals), Zack Wheeler (Mets) and Madison Bumgarner (Giants); third basemen Anthony Rendon (Nationals) and Josh Donaldson (Braves); and outfielder Marcell Ozuna (Cardinals).