The Yankees now have 24 hours so as to add the veteran Smith, a non-roster invitee with no minor league choices, to their roster if they want. If not, Smith will turn out to be a free agent.
Smith was purported to DH towards the Tigers on Friday evening, however he was scratched from the lineup after opting out.
The primary baseman, 29, has put collectively a stable case for a spot on the Yankees’ bench this spring, hitting .297/.289/.857 with three dwelling runs and 12 RBI. Accidents to Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu have helped Smith’s argument, however his left-handed swing might have harm him.
The Yankees might use a right-handed hitter on their bench, and Pablo Reyes, one other non-roster invitee who has earned Aaron Boone’s admiration, has loved a stable exhibition season, slashing .324/.455/.896 with one homer and 4 RBI. Reyes may also play all around the diamond. That features third base, a place that Oswaldo Cabrera will see a whole lot of time at however doesn’t essentially have a stranglehold on.
So far as in-house choices are involved, Trent Grisham, J.C. Escarra and Oswald Peraza are the main candidates for the remainder of the Yankees’ bench. In fact, they might at all times add externally as groups crunch rosters on the finish of camp.
Peraza is out of minor league choices and shall be uncovered to waivers if he’s not traded or on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.
Ben Rice, one other lefty, made Smith expendable as a DH possibility in Stanton’s absence. Grisham and Escarra are lefties too.
“It’s out of my control, but just the initial opportunity to come here and play for spring training and compete for a job, it’s every child’s dream to wear these pinstripes,” Smith mentioned. “There’s no bigger market, no bigger city, no bigger fanbase, no higher stage, and that’s what we live for.
“To come back, I’m just very thankful and very, very, very excited.”
Smith additionally attributed his spectacular spring to a clear invoice of well being, as he had been coping with proper hand points — presumably a partial break — for a number of years previous to 2025. He underwent hamate surgical procedure two Januarys in the past.
“They say your best ability is availability,” Smith mentioned. “Just to be fully healthy is huge. It makes a difference out on the field. It makes a difference with your confidence in the box.
“To have that in the back of your mind every at-bat because you know the pain you feel with each swing, it takes away some of your aggressiveness and some of your power. So I’m just happy that I’m feeling like myself again.”
