Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets announced on Friday night that they’ve non-tendered first baseman Dominic Smith and Sean Reid-Foley. Both players become free agents putting the Mets 40-man roster at 33 players.
The six other remaining arbitration-eligible Mets players–Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Drew Smith, Tomás Nido, Luis Guillorme and Joey Lucchesi–will be tendered contracts.
Smith, 27, was projected to make $4 million for the 2023 season through arbitration. The California native had a rough 2022 season in which he hit just .194/.276/.284 with zero home runs in 58 games at the major league level before the Mets in July. Smith would finish the season in Triple-A Syracuse where he posted a .839 OPS with 10 home runs over 54 games.
Smith’s role within the organization at the big league level became murky when the Mets traded for first baseman/DH Daniel Vogelbach in July. The Mets picked up Vogelbach’s option for the 2023 earlier this offseason putting the writing on the wall for Smith.
Smith made his major league debut in 2017 with the Mets at 22 years old, but didn’t become a productive hitter for the Mets until 2019 when he posted a 132 OPS+ across 89 games. The left-handed hitter followed that up with his best year as a pro with .316/.377/.616 slash line with 21 doubles and 10 home runs during the Covid-shortened 2022 season.
Overall, in 447 major league games spanning six years with the Mets, Smith hit .246/.308/.424 with 46 home runs and 179 RBIs.
