ExGiants closer celebrates return home
ATLANTA — The Braves are not promising Will Smith the closer’s role.
The former Giants closer isn’t complaining.
During his first news conference with his new team Tuesday, Smith said he’s fine with pitching in any inning. The Georgia native said he’s just happy to move close to home and to pitch “for an organization I grew up watching with my family.”
A 30yearold lefthander, Smith wore No. 47 as a kid because that was Atlanta lefthander Tom Glavine’s number.
Smith agreed to a $40 million, threeyear contract with the Braves on Thursday following an AllStar season with San Francisco. The free agent turned down a $17.8 million qualifying from the Giants and agreed to a deal that includes a $13 million annual salaries and a $13 million club option for 2023 with a $1 million buyout.
Smith’s former clubhouse neighbor with the Giants, Mark Melancon, was 11for11 in save opportunities with the Braves in 2019 following a midseason trade from San Francisco.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Melancon is expected to enter spring training as the closer.
The GM noted the decision will be made by manager Brian Snitker.
It would not be a surprise if Smith wins the job. He posted a 2.76 ERA with a careerbest 34 saves last season for the Giants.
“Will Smith is one of the better relievers in the game,” Anthopoulos said. “It’s a big add for us. We made our bullpen a lot better today.”
Lefthander Sean Newcomb, who started only four games before pitching well out of the bullpen last season, will have another opportunity to win a spot in the rotation. Anthopoulos said that decision was made before the team signed Smith.
Teams are increasingly willing to utilize elite relievers in clutch situations before the ninth inning. Anthopoulos said he could foresee Smith working in the seventh or eighth innings, depending upon matchups and game situations.
Smith endorsed that strategy. He said a successful bullpen is filled with pitchers who see themselves as “the closer of that inning,” no matter when they enter a game.
“If everybody takes that attitude, I think we’re going to be all right out there,” he said.
Atlanta struggled to find consistency at the back end of its bullpen last season. Anthopoulos made three tradedeadline deals to acquire relievers, adding Melancon, Shane Greene from Detroit and Chris Martin from Texas.
Bullpen woes hurt the Braves in their NL Division Series loss to St. Louis. Atlanta led 31 going to the eighth inning of the opener, but Luke Jackson and Melancon struggled in a 76 loss.
Smith said playing so close to home “was huge” in his decision to sign with Atlanta. He said he also wanted to play for a winner, and the Braves have won two straight NL East division titles.
Smith is a native of Newnan, Ga. — about 40 miles southwest of Atlanta. He said his family frequently attended Braves games.
Smith said playing home games at Oracle Park made it difficult for his Georgia family to follow his career.
“They would set an alarm for 12:45 to check the score and see if it was a save situation,” Smith said.