Smith was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old had sporadic playing time recently, and he'll be cast off the 40-man roster after Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) was reinstated from the 60-day IL on Wednesday. Smith has appeared in 33 games with Tampa Bay and Atlanta this season, and he's hit .168 with three doubles, eight runs and three RBI.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Heads to bench
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
With starts behind the dish in four of Atlanta's last five games, Smith appeared to move atop the depth chart at catcher, but he's expected to work in a timeshare moving forward after the team acquired Stephen Vogt from the Diamondbacks on Saturday. Vogt and Smith will fill in at catcher until Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) is ready to return from the 60-day injured list, perhaps around mid-August.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Gets breather Saturday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup for Saturday's against the Marlins.
The 33-year-old went hitless in four at-bats Friday and is now 5-for-29 with four walks and one RBI in his last 10 games. Jonathan Lucroy will get the start at catcher Saturday.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Rotowire
Smith isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Smith could serve as the primary catcher going forward after William Contreras was sent down Wednesday, but he'll get a breather after he went 1-for-3 with a strikeout Tuesday. Jonathan Lucroy will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Scores twice in rout
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI in Atlanta's 20-2 win over the Mets on Wednesday.
Making a rare start at catcher in place of a resting Willson Contreras, Smith did his part at the dish during Atlanta's 20-hit barrage. Smith has a good reputation as a defender, but his middling .209/.306/.233 slash line this season between stops in Tampa Bay and Atlanta means he likely won't have much fantasy appeal if Contreras ends up missing time at some point.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Picks up start in series finale
Rotowire
Smith will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday against the Red Sox.
No. 1 catcher William Contreras will get a breather in the series finale, allowing Smith to pick up his sixth start behind the plate since being acquired from the Rays on May 19. Smith has been serviceable as a hitter during his time in Atlanta, going 5-for-19 with a pair of walks.
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Braves' Kevan Smith: Traded to Atlanta
Rotowire
Smith was traded from Tampa Bay to Atlanta on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Smith was designated for assignment by the Rays on Sunday after he went 1-for-4 with two runs and two strikeouts across four games to begin the year. He'll be available for Wednesday's game against the Mets and should serve in a depth role behind William Contreras while Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) and Alex Jackson (hamstring) are sidelined.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Smith was designated for assignment by the Rays on Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
With Francisco Mejia (intercostals) ready to return, Smith's services were no longer needed at the major-league level. Smith does not have a great defensive reputation, but he can hit a little bit (career .271/.320/.383), and with the catching injuries around baseball, it's no lock the Rays will be able to pass him through waivers.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Called up Friday
Rotowire
Smith's contract was selected by the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Francisco Mejia (ribs) was scratched from Friday's lineup, so Smith will be available off the bench while Mike Zunino starts behind the plate. Ryan Yarbrough was placed on the COVID-19 injured list with side effects related to the vaccine in a corresponding move.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Ready for game action if needed
Rotowire
Smith is over the back troubles that plagued him earlier this spring and is part of the Rays' taxi squad on its current road trip, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
The veteran backstop's availability for emergency purposes indicates he's back to health after the back issue cropped up late in spring training. Smith wielded a scalding hot bat, albeit over a small sample, in Grapefruit League play, hitting .625 (5-for-8) with two doubles and five RBI.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Ramping up baseball activities
Rotowire
Smith (back) will begin ramping up baseball activities and was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
The 32-year-old didn't make the Opening Day roster, but his return to baseball activities is a good sign after sitting out the past week with a back issue. Smith should provide organizational depth at catcher for the Rays once he's fully recovered.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Managing another back issue
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Smith is heading for further medical testing on a back injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 32-year-old was briefly sidelined by a back issue earlier in camp, and a new back injury has apparently cropped up. Smith figures to be sidelined for at least a few days while being evaluated.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Thrives in return to action
Rotowire
Smith entered Tuesday's Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox as a pinch hitter and went 2-for-2 with a two-run single and a double.
The veteran backstop played in the Rays' Grapefruit League opener Feb. 28, but he hadn't seen any game action again prior to Tuesday due to back tightness. However, Smith clearly didn't have any rust in his return and is now 3-for-4 with three RBI overall in his first pair of exhibition contests.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Shakes off back injury
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Smith has made a full recovery from the back injury that resulted in him being scratched from the lineup ahead of a Grapefruit League game last weekend against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Smith needed only a couple of days of rest to move past what was apparently a minor back issue. Cash said Smith would enter Tuesday's rematch with Boston as a reserve before starting behind the plate Thursday versus Atlanta.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Scratched with back tightness
Rotowire
Smith was scratched from Friday's spring game against the Red Sox due to back tightness, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old was slated to start behind the plate and bat sixth, but he'll instead take some time to recover from the injury. It doesn't appear to be a serious issue, so Smith could return to the field relatively quickly if he avoids any further problems. Joe Odom replaced him in the lineup for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Set to rejoin Rays
Rotowire
Smith agreed Monday with the Rays on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Tampa Bay dropped Smith from its 40-man roster earlier this offseason, but the backstop will still get the opportunity to compete for a job with the big club this spring. He'll be battling Mike Zunino and offseason pickups Francisco Mejia and Joe Odom for one of the Rays' two catching spots.
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Kevan Smith: Let go by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Smith cleared waivers and was released by the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Smith served as the Rays third catcher this season and went 8-for-31 with one home run and three doubles in 17 games. There's apparently some interest in re-signing the 32-year-old, which makes sense with top catchers Mike Zunino and Michael Perez also no longer on the team.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Slugs first homer
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.
The veteran backstop gave fellow catcher Michael Perez a breather Sunday and made good use of the opportunity, slugging a 426-foot shot to left field with Willy Adames aboard in the fourth. Smith has now appeared in seven September games (five starts) while helping out behind the dish in the absence of Mike Zunino (oblique), but he could well head back to the alternate training site in Port Charlotte once the latter jumps back into action.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: On base thrice in return
Rotowire
Smith, who was just recalled from the Rays' alternate training site on Saturday, went 1-for-3 with an RBI fielder's choice, a double and two walks in a win over the Marlins on Sunday.
Smith made some noise out of the bottom of the order in his first taste of major-league action since Aug. 8. The veteran backstop is up from the alternate training site due to the oblique issue that landed Mike Zunino on the injured list, so he should see some solid playing time for the next 10 days at minimum while splitting catching duties with Michael Perez.
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Rays' Kevan Smith: Receives callup
Rotowire
Smith was called up from the Rays' alternate training site Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Smith along with Brian O'Grady were called up when Ryan Yarbrough (groin) and Mike Zunino (oblique) were placed on the 10-day injured list. Smith is 1-for-1 with a walk and two RBI this season and figures to share catching duties with Michael Perez while Zunino is on the shelf.
