Triston Casas' return to the Boston Red Sox's active roster has been a long time coming, but it didn't come without consequences.
Unfortunately, Casas being activated from the 60-day Injured List Friday meant that veteran first baseman and fan favorite Dominic Smith was out of a job, and the Red Sox designated the 29-year-old for assignment.
Smith opted out of a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays back in May when a major-league roster opening with the Red Sox became available in the wake of Casas’ injury. While Casas brings far more offensive upside, Smith has been a perfectly serviceable substitute, slashing .237/.317/.390 with six homers and 20 doubles in 278 plate appearances.
Social media tributes to Smith poured in after the club announced that he had been DFA'd, with many fans expressing their disappointment in the move, praising Smith's character and veteran leadership and thanking him for stepping up when the team needed him the most.
Dominic Smith quickly cemented himself as a Red Sox fan favorite during brief stint in Boston
Smith delivered plenty of memorable moments during his 83 games with the Red Sox, heating up for a brief spurt at the plate and providing a steady presence at first base during Casas' absence. Smith even shined on the mound for the Red Sox, allowing just two hits in three shutout innings during blowout games. He last pitched Sunday at Fenway Park in the ninth inning of a blowout loss and acknowledged the hometown crowd with a tip of the cap as he left the field.
Once considered a top-100 prospect, Smith has never quite lived up to the hype that followed him as the No. 11 overall pick by the New York Mets in the 2013 MLB Draft. He has slashed .247/.314/.405 at the plate, hovering just around the league average, over an MLB career that has spanned parts of eight seasons.
Now that he’s been designated for assignment, Smith will be either outrighted or released. It’s unlikely he’ll be claimed by another club, but it's still a possibility once he clears waivers. If he does get a new deal somewhere else, the Red Sox would be responsible for the remainder of his contract, minus the prorated minimum for any time spent on his new club’s major league roster or injured list.
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