The Marlins announced that they have claimed right-handed reliever Chad Smith off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans. Smith had previously been designated for assignment by the Halos in order to clear a roster spot for the recently acquired Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
With this waiver claim, the 25-year-old Smith will join his fourth organization of the past six months. Originally a 17th-round draft pick of Detroit back in 2011, Smith has made his way from the Tigers to the Athletics to the Angels and now the Marlins via waiver claim.
Smith tossed just 1 1/3 innings for the A’s this season and yielded five runs. That, combined with the 11 2/3 innings he pitched last year with Detroit, accounts for the entirety of his work at the Major League level. In his 13 big league frames, he’s struck out 11 batters against six walks.
In the minor leagues, Smith has a rather strong track record, however (this season’s poor results notwithstanding). Though he’s allowed 12 runs in 20 innings at the Triple-A level this season, Smith posted a 3.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2014, and he sports a lifetime 2.97 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 184 2/3 innings.
And here I thought Michael Hill was going to be the next one called upon to help the bullpen.
Enjoy him fish. Fans at your AAA game will cringe when he comes in.