Pitcher Will Smith is returning to the Royals, the same team where his MLB career started back in 2012, on a one-year, $5 million contract, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Sunday.
Smith may be the good luck charm the struggling Royals need as he’s coming off winning three consecutive World Series titles with three separate teams. He played for the Braves in 2021, followed by the Astros in ‘22 and then most recently he was with the Rangers as they secured the 2023 title back in November.
With this feat, Smith became the only player out of the four major North American sports leagues—MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA—to appear in at least one game of a title run with three different teams in three consecutive seasons in history.
Left-handed reliever Will Smith and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2023
Smith, 34, made his big league debut with the Royals in 2012. He has won a World Series ring each of the last three seasons.
Smith played in 60 games last season, finishing with a 4.40 ERA. He threw 55 strikeouts over 57.1 innings pitched.
The Royals finished last in the AL Central with a 56–106 record. This was the second worst record in MLB last season behind the Athletics.
