Reliever Drew Smith has landed with the Twins on a minor league deal, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The Roc Nation client was in camp with the Nationals. Smith didn’t allow a run in the spring, but Washington released him last week. As an Article XX(B) free agent, Smith was on the verge of an opt-out opportunity when the Nats cut ties with him.
The 32-year-old Smith has spent his entire big-league career with the Mets. He pitched in parts of six seasons with New York. Smith posted career highs in innings (56 1/3) and appearances (62) in 2023. He picked up his first three MLB saves that season and was primed to be a key cog in the Mets’ bullpen the following year. Smith got off to a strong start, recording a pair of saves with a career-best 29.1% strikeout rate, but went down with an elbow sprain in July 2024. He missed all of the 2025 campaign after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. The Mets held a $2MM club option on Smith for 2026, which they declined.
Smith performed well in Spring Training with Washington, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless frames with a 35.0% strikeout rate. The right-hander was vying for a spot in a Nats bullpen lacking proven arms. He’ll encounter a similar situation in Minnesota.
The Twins sent out every notable member of their bullpen at the 2025 trade deadline. Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, and Danny Coulombe all found new homes. The club was active this offseason in the relief market, albeit on the cheaper side. Minnesota brought back lefty Taylor Rogers on a one-year deal. Anthony Banda and Eric Orze came aboard through trades with the Dodgers and Rays, respectively. Zak Kent‘s whirlwind offseason ended with a roster spot in Minnesota. It’s not an impenetrable depth chart, particularly given that the group skews left-handed and Smith is a righty.
Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images
