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WASHINGTON (AP) — Dominic Smith described his transfer to the Washington Nationals by way of a one-year, $2 million contract as a “recent begin” and stated the workforce that completed final within the NL East every of the previous three seasons desires him to be its on a regular basis first baseman.
“They need me to come back in and play first base and simply share my information of the sport,” Smith stated throughout a video convention with reporters on Wednesday, when the Nationals introduced the settlement.
Along with the $2 million wage, his free-agent contract consists of as much as $2 million in doable incentives, in accordance with an individual with information of the deal, who confirmed the parameters to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of no monetary phrases have been disclosed.
Throughout his time with the New York Mets, the affable Smith break up time between first base, left discipline and designated hitter. He thinks sticking primarily to his pure place at first, the place he was blocked by Mets slugger Pete Alonso, will enable him “to simply actually be snug,” he stated.
“It’ll assist me have a transparent head on the plate,” the 27-year-old Smith stated.
Smith hit nicely in the course of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with the Mets, placing up a career-high batting common of .316 and a .993 OPS, however has struggled since then.
The 2013 first-round draft decide batted a career-worst .194 with zero homers and 17 RBIs in 58 video games final season whereas making $3.95 million. He was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse on Might 31, when he was hitting .186 by way of 101 plate appearances, then returned to the majors after a three-week stint within the minors.
Smith went on the disabled checklist July 20 with a sprained proper ankle. He was activated Aug. 11 and instantly optioned again to Syracuse, the place he spent the rest of the season. He didn’t play within the majors after July 16, and the Mets selected to not provide him a 2023 contract.
As for what he plans to do that yr to get again to hitting nicely, Smith stated: “Simply persevering with to regulate the strike zone and never chase. I’m at my greatest after I’m simply letting the pitchers come to me and never making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. … Final yr, I used to be making an attempt to perform a little bit an excessive amount of.”
In six main league seasons, all with New York, he has a .246 batting common and a .733 OPS, with 46 homers and 179 RBIs.
Washington, which gained the World Collection in 2019 and was a serious league-worst 55-107 in 2022, introduced different roster strikes Wednesday: Proper-hander A.J. Alexy was designated for project, whereas infielder Michael Chavis and left-handers Anthony Banda and Francisco Pérez have been signed to minor league contracts and invited to spring coaching.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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