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Astros: Left-handed relief pitchers to consider before trade deadline
By Brian Murray
Will Smith: LH/RP – San Francisco Giants
Let’s face it, the San Francisco Giants are out of the race at 36-47. They are 19.5 games behind the first place Los Angeles Dodgers and currently second to last for a shot at a Wild Card slot. So, I think it’s safe to say that Will Smith, along with other Giants, will be up for grabs in this final month of trading.
Smith started his career with the Kansas City Royals as a starter in 2012. After a 6-9 win-loss record and an ERA of 5.32, the Royals thought it best to try him out as a reliever. Ever since going to the bullpen, his highest season ERA was 3.70.
He missed the 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he seems to have come back even better. His career ERA prior to the surgery was 3.88 and had a 1.344 WHIP. In the two years post-surgery, he has dropped his ERA to 2.40 and his WHIP to 0.915.
The 29-year-old reliever is having a stellar season for San Francisco and has been justly rewarded by being selected to his first All-Star appearance. Smith is tied for first in the National League in games finished with 32, tied for second with a 3.4 WPA (Max Scherzer 1st with 3.5), and third in the League with 21 saves.
Smith is having the best season of his career boasting a 2.16 ERA, 0.810 WHIP, and a 1.2 WAR. He has struck out 51 in his 33.1 innings of work and walked a paltry eight batters. That gives him an impressive 13.8 SO/9 IP and a 6.38 SO/BB ratio. Smith has only surrendered three homers all season.
Will Smith would come in with a relatively cheap $4.23 million dollar contract. But he would probably equate to just a rental, being that he becomes a free agent at the end of this season. He is primarily a closer with San Francisco but would be a nice left-handed compliment to Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna.