The Kansas City Royals have reached an agreement with left-handed reliever Will Smith on a $5 million contract for the 2024 season, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity on Sunday pending a physical.
The 34-year-old Smith, who has garnered World Series rings with three different teams over the past three seasons, can also earn performance bonuses as part of the agreement.
Smith commenced his MLB career as a starter in Kansas City before transitioning to the bullpen, where he found significant success. Having played for five other clubs, he earned an All-Star selection with the Giants in 2019 and secured World Series victories in 2021 with the Braves, the following year with the Astros, and this past season with the Rangers. During the recent postseason, Smith pitched in five appearances for Texas, allowing four runs, including two in the World Series against Arizona.
The Royals, who struggled with one of the weakest pitching staffs in the majors last season, particularly in the bullpen with a 5.23 ERA, have been actively addressing their pitching needs. The departure of key high-leverage pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow, traded before the deadline, further intensified their bullpen challenges.
In a move to bolster their relief corps, the Royals acquired Nick Anderson from the Braves for cash last month. Anderson, who had a 3.06 ERA over 35 1/3 innings with Atlanta, was sidelined for the second half of the season due to a shoulder strain.
Despite glaring needs in other areas of the roster, Kansas City has been relatively quiet in free agency. The focus now shifts to addressing the rotation, where the Royals lack depth behind pitchers Cole Ragans, Brady Singer, and Jordan Lyles.
