Right-handed reliever Joe Smith announced his retirement from professional baseball on Wednesday via Excel Baseball. Smith did not pitch at all in 2023 and had a 4.61 ERA (6.29 FIP) and 1.54 WHIP while walking nine and striking out 17 in only 27 1/3 relief innings with the Minnesota Twins in 2022. The 39-year-old veteran was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the third round in 2006 out of Wright State. He never made an All-Star team, but when it was all said and done, Smith had a pretty solid 15-year big-league career, going 55-34 with a 3.14 ERA (3.66 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 30 saves, 254 walks and 666 strikeouts in 726 1/3 relief innings with the Mets, Guardians, Angels, Cubs, Blue Jays, Astros, Mariners and Twins. In 2014 with the Angels, Smith had a 1.81 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a career-high 15 saves.
The Minnesota Twins placed relief pitcher Joe Smith (neck) on the 15-day injured list with upper trapezius tightness on Sunday. The move is retroactive to June 24. The Twins called up fellow relief pitcher Jovani Moran to fill Smith's roster spot. Smith has had a solid year out of the Twins' pen. He's made 28 appearances and he's racked up 14 holds while pitching to a 2.78 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. However, his 4.63 xERA suggests that he's been fortunate thus far. He's also currently sporting a career-low 13.3% strikeout rate, which ranks in the bottom 6% of the league.
Free-agent relief pitcher Joe Smith is signing an undisclosed deal with the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, according to a source. The 37-year-old right-hander split the 2021 season with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, posting a 4.99 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and eight walks in 39 2/3 relief innings over 50 appearances. Smith took the 2020 season off due to COVID-19 and had a strong 1.80 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 25 innings for Houston back in 2019. In Minnesota, Smith will compete for a setup role alongside Tyler Duffey and Jorge Alcala in front of closer Taylor Rogers. With just nine holds in his last two seasons, Smith doesn't hold much fantasy value.
The Houston Astros activated relief pitcher Joe Smith (elbow) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned infielder Taylor Jones to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Smith has been out since June 9 with right elbow soreness and had a rough 6.23 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 17 1/3 relief innings for the 'Stros before his injury. However, he did record a 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 22/5 K/BB in his 25 relief innings during the regular season in 2020 and should be an upgrade to Houston's bullpen as a setup man if he's truly back to full health. Smith probably won't enter the saves mix and isn't likely to have much fantasy appeal in saves/holds leagues, but his return is notable for the Astros bullpen heading into the second half.
Houston Astros relief pitcher Joe Smith (elbow) started a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday night. Barring a setback, Smith could certainly rejoin the club before the All-Star break. The right-handed reliever wasn't very good before going on the injured list, sporting a 6.23 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 15/4 K/BB in 17 1/3 innings over 22 relief appearances. However, he has been a solid setup man in the past as a journeyman reliever and could become a solid bullpen piece for the Astros in the second half of the season. Even if Smith turns things around when he returns, he won't be much of a fantasy option in a middle-relief role.
Houston Astros relief pitcher Joe Smith (elbow) will throw a bullpen session on Friday. It sounds like Smith will use his whole arsenal at the session in Detroit. The hope is that things go well and Smith can be activated shortly after the session. However, he might be asked to go on a rehab assignment, which would sideline him longer. Smith has been out since early July and wasn't pitching well before the injury. He can be ignored in fantasy formats going forward.
Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith has a chance to be a sneaky-good option for holds and the odd save this coming fantasy season. The veteran right-hander had a respectable spring by allowing two runs in 4.2 innings with a K-BB of 5-1. The 37-year-old might be a bit of a forgotten arm after he sat out 2020 to be with his sick mother, who passed away last August. However, Smith has 210 career holds and finished the 2019 season with a 1.80 ERA in 28 games for the Astros. Behind closer Ryan Pressly, Houston's bullpen has limited veteran experience, especially with Pedro Baez on the injured list. And with an unproven starting staff, the bullpen could be called on often to help preserve a lead.
The Houston Astros placed relief pitcher Joe Smith on the restricted list on Wednesday, but Smith has not informed the team of his final intentions for the 2020 season. It was reported earlier that Smith was opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns around the coronavirus pandemic, but he hasn't made a final decision. If the 36-year-old reliever winds up skipping the season, it'll be a big loss for Houston's bullpen, as Smith was set to be one of the primary setup men in front of closer Roberto Osuna. Smith has 30 career saves in his 13 big league seasons and had a pristine 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 22 K's in 25 relief outings for the 'Stros in 2019 after coming back from injury.
Houston Astros relief pitcher Joe Smith (Achilles) has been activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday. Smith has not pitched this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. He pitched decent in the minors, but has been a serviceable reliever in the majors for quite some time. The Astros will likely ease him back into action, so he won't have much value right away.
Houston Astros relief pitchers Hector Rondon and Joe Smith are being added to the roster for the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox in favor of reliever Will Harris and outfielder Myles Straw. Rondon was solid for the Astros as their primary closer for much of the year, but he lost the job when the team traded for current closer Roberto Osuna.
