Dominic Smith DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

First baseman Dominic Smith is returning to the New York Yankees on a minor league contract. Smith opted out of his previous minor league deal with the Yankees in March but will return to the Bronx after not finding another suitor. Fantasy managers should expect the 29-year-old to report to Triple-A and provide first base and outfield depth. Last season, Smith appeared in 93 MLB contests, with most of his time in Boston. Across this stint, the 29-year-old posted a .233/.313/.378 slash line with 22 doubles and six home runs. During the 2023 campaign, he spent the entire campaign with the Washington Nationals and held a .254/.326/.366 slash line. In 275 career games at Triple-A, Smith has posted a strong .293/.360/.455 slash line. He should be in the mix to return to the big leagues if the Yankees need additional depth at first base or in the outfield.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the New York Yankees have signed first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith to a minor-league contract. Smith opened the 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox but was eventually shipped to Cincinnati. Across 93 major league games last summer, Smith held a .233/.313/.378 line with six home runs. In 21 games with Triple-A Durham, Smith posted a .263./337/.375 line. The former 11th-overall selection has been unable to get his major league career back on track since posting a strong .299/.366/.571 line across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Fantasy managers should expect Smith to open the campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but would likely be given another opportunity in the majors as an injury replacement for Ben Rice or Paul Goldschmidt at first base.

Free-agent first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith signed a major-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, according to sources. Smith was released by the Boston Red Sox recently after serving as their primary first baseman since May because of a rib-cage injury to Triston Casas. Smith's deal with the Reds is pending a physical. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter hit .237/.317/.390 with a .706 OPS, six home runs, 34 RBI and 29 runs scored in his 249 at-bats with Boston before being released this year. Smith has been a bit better since the All-Star break, though, and he could see some playing time in Cincy at first base against right-handed pitching now that Jeimer Candelario (toe) is on the injured list. The former 11th overall pick by the New York Mets in 2013 is a career .247/.314/.405 hitter in eight major-league seasons with a .719 OPS.UPDATE: Smith is making his Reds debut on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and rookie right-hander Paul Skenes, starting at first base and batting seventh at PNC Park.