Smith was reassigned Tuesday to minor-league camp by the Pirates.
Smith was signed to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training by the Pirates, but his bid to make the big-league club comes up unsuccessful. The left-hander is being built up as a starter and could be a part of the rotation for Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Caleb Smith: Working as a starter in camp
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Smith (elbow) is being stretched out as a starter in Pirates camp, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Smith was used almost exclusively in relief for the Diamondbacks last season, but the Pirates will attempt to build him back up. Realistically though, if Smith is going to make the Opening Day roster it will almost surely be as a reliever. The left-hander's 2022 season ended with a partial UCL tear in his elbow, but he's now fully recovered.
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Pirates' Caleb Smith: Lands deal with Pirates
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Smith (elbow) signed a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training with the Pirates on Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Smith pitched nearly exclusively out of Arizona's bullpen in 2022 and posted a 4.11 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 70 frames. He also surrendered 5.0 BB/9 and 1.8 HR/9, which led to him being DFA'd by the Diamondbacks in November. Smith will fight for a low-leverage role in the Pirates' bullpen during spring training.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: DFA'd by Arizona
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Smith (elbow) was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Smith primarily worked out of the bullpen in 2022 and had a 4.11 ERA across 70 innings, but he won't retain his spot on the 40-man roster through the offseason. The 31-year-old suffered an elbow injury during the season finale, though it's unclear if the issue is affecting his offseason program.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Dealing with elbow injury
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Smith has an injured left elbow, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Smith recorded three strikeouts over 1.2 innings during Wednesday's victory over Milwaukee before being pulled in the seventh inning. The specifics of the injury will be revealed when he gets imaging done Thursday. Luckily for Smith, he'll have plenty of time to get ready for spring training in 2023.
Smith allowed one hit and struck out one over 2.2 innings in Saturday's 2-0 loss to San Diego.
Smith has been effective in a long-relief role since coming off the injured list in late August. The lefty's pitched to a 2.63 ERA over 13.2 innings spanning eight outings. Smith hung around the fringes of the starting rotation since being acquired from the Marlins in 2020, but he's been forced to settle -- or pitched himself -- into a relief role. Of his 39 outings this season, 38 have come out of the bullpen, and the organization promoted a pair of promising starters to join Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Zach Davies and Madison Bumgarner in the rotation. Smith is still arbitration eligible, so his role is expected to remain the same next season.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Reinstated from 15-day IL
Rotowire
Smith (finger) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Smith underwent surgery to address a fractured pinkie finger in his non-throwing hand in early August, but he began a rehab assignment last week and will rejoin Arizona's bullpen after missing just under a month. The southpaw made two appearances during his rehab assignment and posted a 1.80 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in five innings.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Starts up rehab assignment
Rotowire
Smith (finger) began a rehab assignment Tuesday with the Diamondbacks' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate and struck out three over three innings while giving up one earned run on two hits and one walk.
Smith underwent surgery Aug. 2 to address a fractured right pinkie finger, but because the procedure was to his non-throwing hand, he'll likely face a shorter recovery timeline than what's typically associated with the injury. The Diamondbacks are expected to bring Smith back as a multi-inning reliever, and his heavy workload Tuesday suggests he's already fairly stretched out and won't require an extended rehab assignment.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Undergoes surgery
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Smith underwent surgery on his right pinky finger Tuesday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Smith was injured following an outing Saturday when he punched something in frustration. The injury was first reported as a fractured hand, but Tuesday's report indicates it's a finger injury. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo did not have a timetable for Smith's return, though it's safe to assume he'll miss most, if not the rest, of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Diagnosed with fractured hand
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Smith was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday with a fractured right hand.
It's unclear how long Smith will need to recover from his injury, but he will be out at least a couple weeks. Kevin Ginkel was called up to take Smith's spot in Arizona's bullpen.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Picks up win
Rotowire
Smith (1-1) allowed one hit and two walks (one intentional) while striking out one over 1.2 scoreless innings to claim the win over San Francisco on Tuesday.
Smith was the pitcher of record when Arizona plated five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a comeback win. He had been a candidate to start the game, which would have been Zach Davies' (shoulder) turn through the rotation, but manager Torey Lovullo went with Tyler Gilbert, who'd been called up from Triple-A Reno. Smith has sparkled in a long-relief role (3.03 ERA, 35.2 IP) and could join the rotation, which is unsettled beyond its top three starters.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Fires three scoreless frames
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Smith allowed three hits and struck out four over three scoreless relief innings in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Padres.
Smith held San Diego off the scoreboard for three innings, which gave Arizona hitters the opportunity to erase a 6-0 deficit for the win. While Smith's ERA is 5.11, the left-hander has whittled that down from a horrendous start that prompted the organization to demote him to Triple-A Reno. Since May 1, when the Diamondbacks brought him back to the majors as a multi-inning reliever, Smith sports a 3.27 ERA over 33 relief innings. He may get consideration for a move into the rotation following the team's decision to place Zach Davies (shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day injured list.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Eats innings in long relief
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Smith was charged with two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four in 4.1 innings of long relief in Tuesday's 14-8 loss to the Reds.
Smith did his best to save the rest of the Arizona bullpen after starter Tyler Gilbert ceded seven runs (six earned) while recording only five outs before departing. With Gilbert unlikely to get another turn through the rotation this weekend in Philadelphia, Smith could be built up enough to make a spot start, but the Diamondbacks are more likely to turn to the recently signed Dallas Keuchel to step in as their new fifth starter.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Delivers best outing
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Smith struck out six over three perfect innings in Wednesday's 11-3 loss to the Marlins.
Smith entered after starter Merrill Kelly survived nine baserunners over five innings. The lefty has been plagued by inconsistency but delivered his best performance of the season. Since returning from Triple-A Reno, Smith has allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Back in majors
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Smith was recalled from Triple-A Reno prior to Friday's game.
He worked as a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A, giving up one run on eight hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 7.2 innings over three appearances. Smith should work in a similar role out of the big-league bullpen.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Will pitch relief in minors
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Smith will pitch out of the bullpen in a long-relief role at Triple-A Reno, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Smith was sent down to the minors over the weekend with Matt Peacock getting the call to Arizona. If Smith returns to the Diamondbacks, it will likely be as a multi-inning reliever.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Sent to minors
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks optioned Smith to Triple-A Reno on Sunday.
After he was tagged for five runs over three innings out of the bullpen in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Mets, Smith was unlikely to be available in relief for another day or two. The Diamondbacks thus elected to swap him off the 28-man active roster in favor of a fresh arm in Matt Peacock, who will be available as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen in Sunday's series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Pitching out of bullpen
Rotowire
Smith will pitch out of the bullpen after Humberto Castellanos was named the starter for Sunday's game against the Mets, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Smith struggled in his season debut Sunday against the Padres, as he allowed five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out two in one inning to take the loss. The southpaw made most of his appearances as a reliever in 2021, and he'll take on a bullpen role once again while Castellanos serves as a starter. Smith should be one of the top options to fill a hole in the rotation if needed.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Mops up but not well
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Smith allowed five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over three relief innings in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Mets.
Smith was back to the bullpen after making one sketchy start in place of the injured Luke Weaver (elbow). He was better as a reliever than as a starter in 2021, but his first relief appearance in 2022 did not go well. He entered to start the seventh inning with the Diamondbacks down 5-1, and absorbed a pounding over the final three innings. That included giving up two more home runs, his third and fourth allowed over four innings. Humberto Castellanos, who will start Sunday's series finale in New York, is now taking Weaver's rotation spot.
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Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith: Can't escape second inning
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Smith (0-1) got the loss in Sunday's 10-5 defeat at the hands of the Padres, allowing five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in one inning.
Smith started strong, recording both his strikeouts during a 1-2-3 first inning, but walked two batters and served up two long balls following a fielding error and was subsequently removed. It's a poor opening for the 30-year-old, who's looking to rebound from a down 2021 season that featured a 4.83 ERA and stints in and out of the starting rotation. He lines up to face the Mets in New York next Sunday.
