The Tampa Bay Rays added some pitching depth this week by signing former SF Giants right-handed reliever Burch Smith to a minor-league contract. Smith has appeared in five different big-league seasons with the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Giants, and Oakland Athletics. The agreement includes an invitation to big-league spring training.
Smith, 33, has not pitched an MLB inning since 2021, but has spent the last two seasons overseas in top professional leagues in Japan and Korea. He also got the attention of teams this offseason by playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, allowing just four earned runs in 14.1 innings of work.
Smith's big-league career has spanned 2013-2021. He has posted a 6.03 ERA in 191 innings of work with 184 strikeouts and 87 walks. Smith’s stint with the Giants was rather forgettable, as the club claimed him off waivers from the Brewers in August 2019. Although he impressed with 10 appearances out of the bullpen down the stretch, surrendering just two runs across 8.2 innings pitched. However, the organization designated him for assignment ahead of the 2020 season and he was claimed off waivers by the A's.
Smith was a mainstay on Oakland's pitching staff from 2020-21. He was particularly effective in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In six appearances, Smith allowed just three earned runs on seven hits and a walk in 12 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts. His numbers took a step back the following season, though, when he recorded a 5.40 ERA (4.21 FIP) in 43.1 innings pitched (31 appearances) with 28 strikeouts and 11 walks.
The move marks Smith’s second stint with Tampa Bay –– he was traded to the Rays following the 2014 campaign in a three-team deal that resulted in Wil Myers ending up in San Diego while Trea Turner found a home in Washington. With the amount of roster manipulation the Rays conduct, it wouldn’t be difficult to see Burch Smith find his way back to the major leagues next season in the AL East.
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