Braves Sign Dominic Smith to Minor League Deal

The Atlanta Braves bolstered their infield depth Tuesday by signing veteran first baseman Dominic Smith to a one-year minor league contract, with an invitation to big league spring training camp as a non-roster player.

The 30-year-old Smith, a former first-round draft pick of the New York Mets, brings nine years of major league experience to the Braves' roster, which now stands at 66 players in major league camp. He joins the team just days before exhibition games begin this weekend in North Port, Florida. Smith, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Mets in the National League East, becomes a familiar face for Atlanta after years of divisional matchups.

Smith's path to the Braves follows a journeyman stretch marked by several team changes and injuries. Drafted 11th overall in 2013, he debuted with the Mets in 2017 and played 447 games over six seasons, batting .246 with 46 home runs and 179 runs batted in. His standout 2020 season earned him a handful of National League Most Valuable Player votes, as he hit .281 with 10 homers in 56 games. However, a torn labrum in his right shoulder hampered his performance in 2021, and a broken hamate bone in his right hand...