The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have signed right-handed pitcher Joe Smith to a one-year contract through the 2022 season.
Smith, who turns 38 on Tuesday, appeared in 50 games for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners last season, going 4-4 with a 4.99 ERA (39.2 IP, 22 ER), four holds, eight walks, 34 strikeouts and a 1.39 WHIP. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound side-armer was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the third round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and has appeared in 832 career major league games with the Mets (2007-08), Cleveland Guardians (2009-13, ’17), Los Angeles Angels (2014-16), Chicago Cubs (2016), Toronto Blue Jays (2017), Astros (2018-21) and Mariners (2021).
Over his 832 career games, he has posted a record of 54-33 with a 3.09 ERA (735.0 IP, 252 ER) with 30 saves, 215 holds, 245 walks, 649 strikeouts and a .229 opponent batting average. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has appeared in 50-plus games in 12 of his 14 major league seasons. Among all actives, he ranks first in games, second in relief innings, third in holds and 10th in reliever strikeouts.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins have placed Kenta Maeda on the 60-day Injured List, after having “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow on September 1, 2021.
(info courtesy of Twins)