Article: Potential Twins Bullpen Target: Will Smith, LHP, Giants

[Andrew Gebo]

The Minnesota Twins currently only feature one left-handed reliever in their bullpen, Taylor Rogers, who has arguably been their most consistent and reliable option this season. Although Rogers has been excellent, Rocco Baldelli could certainly benefit from another left-handed option in the bullpen. Today we will discuss Will Smith, a left-handed reliever for the San Francisco Giants.Will Smith, LHP, 29-years-old

San Francisco Giants (33-43, 5th in NL West)

Free Agent following 2019 season.

 

2018: 2.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 12.06 K/9, 2.55 BB/9 in 53 IP

2019: 2.01 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 13.50 K/9, 2.01 BB/9 in 31.1 IP

 

What’s To Like

There is a lot to like about Will Smith. He has been a very effective pitcher for the majority of his career and has taken his game to the next level over the past two seasons in San Francisco. It’s no secret that the Giants are not a very good team but when they have had opportunities to win, Will Smith has done an excellent job locking them down. He has converted all twenty of his save opportunities this year and his numbers get even more impressive than that.

 

It is not uncommon for left-handed pitchers, relievers especially, to struggle against right-handed hitters. That has not been the case for Smith. His season splits are very favorable against left and right-handed hitters. In 2019 right-handed hitters have hit .152/.212/.278 compared to .172/.200/.276 for left-handed hitters when facing Will Smith.

 

Oracle Park in San Francisco has forever been one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league. ESPN currently has Oracle Park ranked as the 24th best park for scoring runs. One might assume that Will Smith has benefited from pitching in such a pitcher-friendly ballpark, but his home/road splits are very favorable as well. In 13 ⅓ innings away from Oracle Park, Will Smith has held batters to a very pedestrian .070/.111/.233 while raking up 27 K and a minuscule 1.35 ERA.

 

Concerns

As discussed above, there is a whole lot to like about Will Smith, but that doesn’t mean he comes without any concerns. Smith missed all of 2017 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and even though he has pitched well since returning to the mound, the surgery is still worth mentioning.

 

The surgery is not the only concern either. He will become a free agent after this season so acquiring Smith will very likely be a rental acquisition, unless Minnesota is able to negotiate a longer term contract before the season ends.

 

Another concern with Smith is not about his on-field body of work, but rather the price to acquire his talents. Highly effective left-handed relievers are a hot commodity at the trade deadline and with San Francisco in a rebuild, they will very likely be seeking a hefty exchange for Smith.

 

The last concern with Smith is his second half stats from 2018. Overall on the season he pitched very well but he did struggle a bit in the second half. Over the second half of 2018, opposing hitters were a combined .231/.293/.363 compared to .160/.211/.210 in the first half. His ERA also ballooned to 4.18 in the second half compared to his 1.23 ERA in the first half.

 

His 2018 second half struggles could be a reason to pause or possibly pass on Smith given the uncertainty of how he will perform in the second half of 2019. But what he’s done so far this season is nothing short of impressive and he is certainly a very legitimate trade target for the Minnesota Twins.

 

See Also

Liam Hendriks, RHP, Athletics

Ty Buttrey, RHP, Angels

Ken Giles, RHP, Blue Jays

Sam Dyson, RHP, Giants

Brad Hand, LHP, Indians

Oliver Perez, LHP Cleveland

Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds

John Gant, RHP, Cardinals

Alex Colome, RHP, White Sox

Seth Lugo, RHP, Mets

Greg Holland, RHP, Diamondbacks

Sean Doolittle, LHP, Nationals

Kirby Yates, RHP, Padres

10 Relievers Minnesota Could Target

 

Click here to view the article

[Tomj14]

I am going to start the offer with Fernando Romero and see what SF is looking for.

I would be willing to add Alcala or anybody in Todays top 26-30.

[USAFChief]

I could live with acquiring Smith and a RHer such as Ian Kennedy.

 

Smith would be a great fit for the pen. 

 

Pay up. That's the cost of not doing much in the off season or elsewhere. 

 

 

[stringer bell]

Target #1 IMHO.

[Seansy]

 

Target #1 IMHO.

 

I would put him a hair behind Giles at #2 but those two should be the first ones they check in on.

[diehardtwinsfan]

definitely at the top of my list too.

[J_Dobs]

I would love to get him as well, always wanted him back from his brewer days... But the cost is going to be insane for a rent-a-pitcher.

 

While contending teams are preforming bidding wars on Smith, I would personally talk Trevor Gott with the Giants and search for the ace reliever elsewhere.

[Dakota Diver]

The Giants trade chips would all help Twins, Madison Baumgartner, Will Smith and Sam Dyson. They would cost a lot but you have to give up good players to get good players back!

[Mike Sixel]

Brian
12:28 Do you think Will Smith will bring back a big return for the Giants?
AvatarJay Jaffe
12:29 Eh, not really. He may be the most desirable reliever on the market, or at least the most desirable lefty, but he's also a pending free agent. They're not going to get a Francis Mejia-level prospect.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-6-27-19/

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by Mike Sixel