The Mets reinstated Dominic Smith from the 10-day injured list and then optioned the first baseman to Triple-A Syracuse. Smith has yet to play in the second half of the season, as a right ankle sprain sent him to the IL (via retroactive placement) on July 17.
Smith has already seen 20 games’ worth of action with Syracuse this season, both on a rehab assignment for his ankle and due to a demotion from the Mets’ active roster back in June. In the big leagues, Smith has hit only .194/.276/.284 in 152 plate appearances, his second consecutive down year amidst several trade rumors and the seeming reality that the Mets have simply moved on to other options at the first base/DH spot. Pete Alonso’s presence was already going to limit Smith’s playing time, but New York has turned to several other players for at-bats besides Smith, leaving him frustrated.
The 27-year-old recently spoke about that frustration with MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, but also with off-the-field problems that left Smith “in a bad spot” with his mental health.
“I wasn’t happy at the field. I wasn’t happy playing baseball at all,” Smith said. “I wasn’t happy when I did good. I wasn’t happy when I did bad….It was just stuff not going my way in life. I just felt like things couldn’t get worse, and then they seemingly did, and it kept snowballing worse and worse. You’re trying to control everything, and you just seem like you can’t control anything.”
Fortunately, Smith is in a better mental place and “just at peace right now.” He’ll continue to take the field at Triple-A and see if he can get himself on track as part of the Mets’ plans at least in 2022. His longer-term future in Queens is in doubt, as Smith put it plainly, “with the way I played this year, I don’t know if they want to bring me back for how much my contract is.” Smith earned $3.95MM this season and has two arbitration-eligible years left before free agency, so it remains to be seen if the Mets would just non-tender Smith altogether or if they could arrange a trade.
Non tender.
Hope nothing but the best for Dom. Mental health is more important than a game.
The Mets aren’t doing him any favors. They won’t play him but they won’t trade him somewhere he can have a shot. They shoulda swapped him for Contreras at the deadline. He’d have a shot with the Cubs right now.
Wait, you actually think they were offered that deal and tuned it down? I cannot imagine that they got a single offer for him, and certainly not for Contreras.
Yea that deal was definitely not on the table
Maybe for Dom and one of their top prospects.
He was on the IL at the deadline, and if you think the Mets haven’t tried to move him, or give him opportunity to play, you’re out of your mind. He has his spot in the lineup as Pete’s backup, and DH. He played his way out of the lineup. As he clearly stated in this article, HE was the issue.
Give him a new start in a new organization and to only play 1B
What do all these players have in common after leaving the Mets? They are voice their opinions on how they hate the Mets. Stroman, Noah, and soon Dom. Poor dudes – nah. Stroman was always driven by his ego. Do one likes him. Can’t wait for Nimmo to walk. He is their most underrated and appreciated player. Let him walk and pray disasters like Lindor still produce next season.
yea they hate the Mets because they won’t just give them what they want.
I don’t recall Noah saying anything about hating the Mets. He’s fun on Twitter. That’s a lot different from hating his former organization. I could be missing something though.
A better question you should ask is, why do Philly players get hurt right before playing the Mets? The baseball G-ds have some sort of blessing shield on the Mets this season.
It the law of average.. The gods have not been too kind on the Mets over the last few years.. it’s payback time.
True from the injury standpoint, but the last time the Mets fielded a great baseball team was in 2006. They were not great in ’15, nor are they great this season. Their failures stemmed from poor team construction, not bad luck. This season, their average team is playing over the heads with everything going their way including injuries (or lack thereof).
I don’t get that take at all. They’re a great team. No way around it.
Thank you for being objective
Really? Who is playing over their heads? Certainly not Escobar, Canha, Nido, McCann. You could point to Nimmo except he produced at this rate the last time he was healthy. Marte is playing at normal production rates. Alonso elevated his game a bit, but that is to be expected after three seasons. Lindor is producing at pre-2021 rates.
The bullpen is certainly not over producing. Diaz was a stud in Seattle and he found his confidence again. Lugo has actually regressed.
I think people can’t understand a team that is playing differently than everyone else. They are extremely patient at the plate, don’t strike out 14 times a game, string base hits together to score runs, and are excellent defensively.
Sorry, they are a good team and are much better than the 2015 squad that was essentially a Cespedes and Murphy show.
Strider’s leg sounds very salty. He probably should ice it. His team got a taste of what the best top two in a rotation can do when they’re healthy. The core of the every day players – Nimmo, Marte, Lindor, Alonso, McNeil (in typical batting order) – has been playing to the best of its ability, not over its head. On top of that, in parallel to the NFL’s “shutdown corner,” the Mets have a “shutdown closer.” Steve Cohen will have to open up his wallet to keep this team in tact going forward.
Wow, nobody on the team is even remotely having a career year. Your take is blatantly wrong and blinded by your dislike for the organization.
An even better question is why do you still think the braves are good when they have a losing record against winning teams? And you comment on every single mets post so the mets living in your head rent free? How much more embarrassing can it get for you bruh? You closer to the phillies than the mets. And they been without Harper for how long? Braves finish 3rd in the division for sure. Got too many left against the Mets and Phillies which both have proven to be superior to the braves. But hey there’s always next yr.
Agree. I have no idea what his point is. Tried to identify a logical train of thought but there isn’t one.
Your an orange fan, sound bitter.
Stick with orange couldn’t sound more bitter dudem
I watched the Reds feed for the Reds/Mets game Wednesday, and Chris Welch commented several times on how the Mets are playing baseball the old fashioned way. They make pitchers work, take their walks and change their approach when they have two strikes. No one is focused solely on hitting home runs. He sounded as though he wished the Reds would play the same way.
The Mets have benefitted greatly from the newer runner on second base in extra innings. Last I heard they were something like 9-1 in those. That’s why they are in 1st place (currently).
The Mets hit with runners in scoring position. It’s less about the extra innings rule and more about a deep lineup. Even without that rule they’d have a winning record in extras because their offense is simply better than most teams. I hate the Mets, but trying to call them lucky and making excuses seems foolish. They’re just a better team than most.
I agree with your comment, Von. But why do you hate the Mets?
Just because I root for a rival team. Nothing person against them or their organization.
You’re not missing anything. Thor wished they’d matched Anaheim’s offer, but they didn’t. That’s it. OP is just a Mets-obsessed hater.
He mentions three people who supposedly “voice[d] their opinions on how they hate the Mets” after “leaving the Mets”:
-Dom – still on the Mets, hasn’t left, has never said anything close to hating the Mets.
-Thor – has never said he hates the Mets, has had fun Twitter beefs with fans, actually wished the Mets had kept him or offered him a contract (ie, the opposite of hating the Mets).
-Stroman – has drama literally everywhere he goes
So, OP is 1 for 3, and the one he sort of got right has also had drama everywhere else.
Mets offered noah the contract and he left for 1.3mil more
Your not missing anything. He was going to resign with the Mets until there was a misunderstanding about getting phone calls right before free agency began and the Mets in the process of hiring a GM.
Lindor is a disaster?
Those who don’t watch Lindor on a daily basis don’t get it. I’ll take a (currently) 5 WAR (and counting) shortstop every day of the week. Depending on which valuation of $/Win you prefer, he’s performing at or above his $31M AAV contract. Next.
Lindor has an offense around him now, and he’s thriving. Mets lineup is deep and they all compliment each other.
He looks more relaxed at the plate
Good point. I think there’s far less pressure on him. He doesn’t have to be the guy, just a guy. Team is stacked.
I think Lindor’s down year was a result of a first year huge contract and trying too hard.
Add the disaster that was the “hitting coach” situation and you can see how everyone was a mess. Don’t undervalue Eric Chavez’ influence because the entire team seems to have a different approach.
Lindor was interviewed and was open and transparent that his transition from Cleveland to New York with the added stress of getting his family settled hindered the mental aspects of his game significantly. He came up with and played in Cleveland and was the face of the franchise for 10 years. Anyone transitioning from that space, especially in going from a small market to the largest media market, is liable to go through the same thing. As someone whose career has taken me all over the country while transitioning to new roles, I understand this aspect of adaptability more than most.
Also, look at Carlos Beltran’ stats from his first year in New York.
I’m trying to find a logical train of thought here but it escapes me. What exactly is your point?
You can have fun with the rivalry and dunk away – that’s all part of it. But cmon. It’s better when the competition is fierce
A lot of that griping was classic Wilpon era stuff. It’s a new regime.
Top SS in baseball in first of 10 year contract and Nimmo will be here if Mets want him. I hope they do. And they may finish with best record in baseball. Think you need to stay with Phillies web site.
Nimmo isn’t going anywhere.
Hope he still gets a good shot to play somewhere and have a decent big league career.
If non-tendered, perhaps he can get a chance to play in SF with old teammate JD Davis. Dom is from Cali too.
JD Davis is playing well for the Giants, he has a good glove and a rocket arm plus he’s hit a few HR’s.
Davis and Smith will benefit from more playing time. I hope Smit bounces back with a new team. Mets just don’t have room for him, and they can’t afford to be patient as they’re trying to win it all now.
Davis does NOT have a good glove. But he’s certainly a good hitter that’s way better than what he showed with the Mets this year. Good get by SF.
Davis is amongst the worst fielders in baseball. That’s the whole issue with him, if he was at all competent in the field he’d still be a Met.
Got MVP votes two seasons ago. Now possibly about to be non-tendered. That was quick.
I didn’t say he is a disaster this season – his production relative to his contract is, however.
We talking last year or this year? Cause if your are referencing 2022, your off base. Lindor this year is outperforming every free against shortstop from last winter, two of whom signed for over $30 million dollars a year.
Actually, his new contract didn’t start until this season. I’d say he’s living up to it so far.
He is ninth in baseball in war. Going to score and drive in 120 runs. Great defensive player. He is being paid accordingly.
Considering that his contract started this season and was an extension to the yr he had left you sound real dumb. Maybe look up contracts before posting comments as if you have a clue lol. Lindor is off to a great start in yr 1 of his new deal. You know what the internet is because you are on here so just open up a new tab, type in Google and hit enter. Once loaded type in the search bar the information you think you know and make sure you verify it. I’m sure in ga nobody verifies anything and that’s prob why you turned out the way you are but it’s ok im willing to teach you. Try again though!
Most of these backwoods Georgians will never understand anything other than their truck, hunting, and getting a little too close with their cousins.
here is my 2 cents on this, especially since i have no dog in this fight. imo as a cards/bb fan i think lindor was pressing his first year as a met and just trying to hard. ff to this year contract situation resolved had time to adjust to the nyc environment (a lot of passionate sports fans but both the fans and media can be ruthless). tbh i think lindor fell into the category of a lot of other big players fall in when going to new teams and try to do to much to prove there value.
That’s probably part of it, but it’s also important to remember that Mets overhauled their entire roster, and are a much stronger lineup top to bottom. When ppposing have to work harder through the entire lineup, stars like Lindor and Alonso really shine.
I’m sure the Mets could have swamped him to a non contending team for a lefty reliever. But no…
Find that hard to believe. More likely, no one wanted him because he has sucked recently.
Not in this market. The price for pitching was high. Dom wasn’t going to net a return.
So … why would they refuse to do that?
They hate him and want him to rot in AAA? They hate themselves and don’t want to improve their pen?
I did drugs.
Feel bad for Dom, he’s a genuinely good dude.
Hard to believe he was worth much more than a guy in a similar spot–reclamation project. The Mets probably figured the better gamble was hoping he gets healthy and tears up AAA or even makes it back and shows at the ML level, to help reestablish some value. If he doesn’t, he has no value at all, which is only slightly less than it is now. The time to trade him was probably this off-season. Oh well.
He likely didn’t have much value because of his poor 2021 season. I’m sure the Mets would have traded him and/or JD if they’d had a decent offer.
I watched Smith play for Savannah quite a lot in 2014. He had a nice level swing there, not a lot of moving parts. Watching him with the Mets, it seems his swing is more uppercut, like he’s doing the launch angle thing, and it’s not as smooth. I’m no expert though, just my $0.02 worth.
Is that you, Dom?
Didn’t hear any of this when he was playing regularily. Excuses.
If you say so…