The Yankees have been dealing with injuries and lineup adjustments, but losing Dominic Smith doesn’t seem to be keeping them up at night. The veteran left fielder opted out of his deal just before Opening Day, hitting free agency after it became clear he wouldn’t make New York’s 40-man active roster. But wait—wasn’t Smith good enough to make the cut?
Statistically, he was. The 29-year-old slugger put up solid numbers this spring, slashing .297/.289/.568 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 12 games. However, his 2023 season was a rollercoaster, bouncing between three teams with inconsistent performances. His last truly productive stretch came with the Mets, where he played 447 games, hit 46 home runs, and drove in 179 RBIs. So, it’s not like he doesn’t belong in the big leagues
Dom Smith is opting out of his Yankees contract pic.twitter.com/La2FcMQ7EI
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 21, 2025
The problem was only the lack of confirmation of making it to the active roster. The Yankees are reportedly inclined towards Ben Rice to replace injured Giancarlo Stanton. Rice is 26, and the Yankees are betting on the rookie over Smith. It was obvious that Smith had to jump ship to get a starter role. The Yanks’ hitting squad is too stacked for Smith to secure a place. This made the fans get honest about losing Smith from the Bronx. Taking to the X, they shared how this decision is mutually beneficial for both parties.
Fans get brutally honest with Smith
Chances are high that the Yankees greenlighted Dominic Smith to look for a better option. He was communicated with about not making it to the active roster. A fan pointed towards this certainty about how the entire process of Smith parting away from the Bronx was seamless. Well, Smith surely deserves to be on an active roster anywhere, and it is good for the team that they got transparent here. No such confirmation from the Yankees, though. Even manager Aaron Boone kept it vague, saying, “I feel like he’s in really good shape. So we’ll see what happens.”
Well that certainly makes some of the roster decisions easier. Wonder if he was given a heads up that he was not going to make the team and wanted a chance to land elsewhere before Opening Day.
— Hiding Homer Bush (@HidingHomerBush) March 21, 2025
A player like Smith with tons of experience would surely not like to get benched. “He wants playing time.” Yes, even with a smaller team or a less contending team, on-field action is all that is required for Smith. Thus, leaving the Bronx is a good go, considering he has no chance here to hit the park.
He wants playing time.
— Larry A Shampoe (@larryshampoe) March 21, 2025
While the Yankees are going with Rice to replace Stanton, who will replace Rice in case of injuries? Alex Verdugo was there, but he left for the Braves. So who’s left? One fan highlighted this exact concern, suggesting that letting Smith walk could backfire in the long run.
Yankees roll with Rice cause they like having holes when injuries come
— MoonCake (@MoonCake1738) March 21, 2025
Now that the Yankees are past for Smith, where will he land? The Red Sox are rumored to offer a berth behind Triston Casas at 1B. The Mets are also in contention for a 1B backup role. Dominic Smith has an impressive history with both teams, and a decision might be around the corner.
Curious where he thinks he’s going to go…
— Allen (@Allen_B__) March 21, 2025
It’s high time that the Yankees give Rice a shot to take to the field. While Smith is tried and tested, the future lies with the rookies. As per an enthusiast, it’s the right move for both Rice and Smith. This will be the first full MLB year for Rice, and investing in him will yield better results in the long run. For Smith, teams are asking for a starter role. Thus, it’s mutually beneficial for all.
I think right move for him and the team. He’s raked…has value…we should give Rice a shot.
Good all around on this one
— Chris Slater (@thisisslater) March 21, 2025
The Yankees are happy to let go of Smith this year. The fans would wait to watch where he ultimately lands and scope out when he gets to hit the field.
Will the Yankees regret this decision, or was it the right call? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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