Left-handed reliever Will Smith is set to return to where it all began by signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, ESPN reported Sunday.
Smith was with the Royals for his first two major league seasons in 2012 and 2013. The 34-year-old won a World Series ring last season with the Texas Rangers when he went 2-7 with a 4.40 ERA and 22 saves in 60 regular-season appearances.
In five postseason appearances in 2023 (3 1/3 innings), Smith had a 10.80 ERA. He made two appearances in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 13.50 ERA.
In his 11 major league seasons with six different teams, Smith is 33-41 with a 3.67 ERA in 573 appearances (17 starts) and has 113 saves. He was an All-Star in 2019 as a member of the San Francisco Giants.
Smith has won a World Series ring in three consecutive seasons, getting one in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves and another in 2022 with the Houston Astros, although he didn't pitch in that series.
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