The Yankees outrighted Smith to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
Prior reports suggested that Smith declined the assignment and planned to pursue free agency, but the infielder will end up sticking around in the Yankees organization. Smith will provide infield depth for the Yankees at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Kevin Smith: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Smith elected to become a free agent Tuesday.
Smith has not registered a big-league plate appearance this season despite enjoying two separate stints with the Yankees. Rather than returning to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on an outright assignment, he'll look to secure a deal elsewhere in free agency. The 27-year-old owns a mere .516 OPS during his major-league career, so it's unlikely he nets anything more than another minor-league deal.
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Yankees' Kevin Smith: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Yankees sent Smith outright to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
The Yankees DFA'd Smith on Thursday after claiming outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Dodgers, and the 27-year-old infielder will officially remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. Smith is slashing just .182/.282/.212 across 39 Triple-A plate appearances and is unlikely to return to New York barring a significant turnaround.
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Yankees' Kevin Smith: Pushed off 40-man
Rotowire
The Yankees designated Smith for assignment Thursday.
Smith was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, but the Yankees claiming Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Dodgers will leave Smith without a 40-man roster spot once again. The 27-year-old Smith never appeared at the plate during his brief stint in New York, and a .516 OPS throughout his MLB career makes it likely he passes through waivers unclaimed.
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Yankees' Kevin Smith: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Yankees selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, YES Network reports.
With Jon Berti landing on the injured list due to an adductor injury, Smith will be brought up from the minors to give the Yankees additional infield depth. The 27-year-old owns a .173/.215/.301 slash line through 333 career plate appearances, and he's posted just a .494 OPS through nine games in Triple-A.
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Yankees' Kevin Smith: Sent to minors camp
Rotowire
The Yankees reassigned Smith to minor-league camp on Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Smith was in contention for a reserve role because the Yankees lack an ideal backup shortstop, but he ultimately didn't make the cut. The 27-year-old will represent infield depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Kevin Smith: Non-tendered by Oakland
Rotowire
Smith became a free agent Friday after the Athletics declined to tender him a contract.
The A's will officially move on from Smith after the 27-year-old infielder slashed just .185/.220/.326 through 146 big-league plate appearances. However, he put up an impressive 1.025 OPS with Triple-A Las Vegas, so he should be able to secure a minor-league deal relatively easily.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Doubles, scores in loss
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-3 with a double and a run in a loss to the Tigers on Thursday.
Smith had one of only two extra-base hits for the Athletics on Thursday, with his two-bagger serving as his third during his current big-league stint. Smith has seen near-everyday playing time since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sept. 5, but the same issues that have plagued him in prior samples against big-league arms persist -- the 27-year-old has just a .212 batting average across 36 plate appearances, with that figure largely the byproduct of a bloated 38.9 percent strikeout rate.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup Friday against the Padres.
Jordan Diaz will start at third base and bat sixth as Nick Allen plays shortstop and hits eighth. The 27-year-old Smith has slashed just .200/.233/.357 across 125 major-league plate appearances this year with the Athletics.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Recalled from Vegas
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Smith will come up from the minors to replace Lawrence Butler, who was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday. The 27-year-old Smith is slashing .324/.372/.653 through 183 plate appearances in the minors this season, but his success has yet to translate over into the big leagues with just a .546 OPS in 94 at-bats this season.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Reinstated, sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Smith (back) was activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday and optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old is fully recovered from the back strain that sent him to the injured list in mid-June, but he won't rejoin the big club now that he's healthy. Smith has appeared in 34 MLB games this season and has a .191/.216/.330 slash line and 33.3 percent strikeout rate in 102 plate appearances.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Plays field in rehab game
Rotowire
Smith (back) started at shortstop in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Friday and played five innings, going 1-for-2.
Smith made his rehab debut with the Aviators on Thursday as the designated hitter, so the fact he was able to not only play on back-to-back days, but also log five innings in the field while doing so, was certainly encouraging. Smith has been sidelined since mid-June with his back strain, so he likely needs at least several more rehab games before he's fully back in sync physically and mentally.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Drives in run in rehab debut
Rotowire
Smith (back) started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Thursday.
Smith enjoyed a solid start to his rehab assignment. The infielder will work up to playing defense in subsequent games as he completes his recovery from a mid-June back strain.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Dealing with back tightness
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Smith was experiencing back tightness ahead of Friday's game against the Phillies, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith's late removal from the lineup was labeled as a precaution, so it's unlikely he's facing an extended absence. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Scratched from lineup
Rotowire
Smith was scratched from the Athletics' lineup Friday.
It's unknown why Smith was taken out of the A's lineup, but Aledmys Diaz will take Smith's place at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Gets breather Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Rays.
Smith will take a seat after he went 2-for-6 with a solo homer, two runs scored and two strikeouts while starting the last two contests. Aledmys Diaz will take over at shortstop and bat seventh against Tampa Bay.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Knocks fourth homer Sunday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Brewers on Sunday.
Smith joined the Athletics' offensive barrage in the seventh inning, leaving the yard via a 383-foot shot to left field for his fourth homer of the season. The shortstop had been mired in a 3-for-20 slump over the eight games prior to Sunday's, but manager Mark Kotsay appears committed to continuing to afford Smith near-everyday playing time for the moment.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Smith will sit Saturday against the Brewers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith started a pair of games after getting recalled earlier this week, going 2-for-9 at the plate. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday as Aledmys Diaz takes over at shortstop.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.
The Athletics were routed in the contest, but Smith had a productive performance with his second homer and second multi-hit effort of the campaign. The infielder has started each of the first three games in the series against the Angels, going 4-for-10 with a pair of homers and four RBI.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Blasts three-run homer Monday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.
The Athletics' offense finally had a breakout night in the new season, and Smith followed teammates Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar in leaving the yard early in the contest. Rooker's 385-foot shot to left in the second inning was the most productive of the three early round trippers, as it plated Aledmys Diaz and Carlos Perez to push Oakland's lead to 5-0 at the time. Smith has now hit safely in four consecutive starts, slowly crawling out of an early-season hole at the plate that is responsible for his slash line still sitting at an abysmal .186/.186/.279, even when factoring in recent success.
