New Red Sox first baseman Dominic Smith on playing at Fenway Park: 'There's no better place to play'
Over the last couple of days, the Red Sox have added considerable depth to the roster in first basemen Garrett Cooper and Dominic Smith.
Boston signed Smith on Wednesday after he opted out of his minor league deal with the Rays. With the addition of Smith, the Red Sox can do a left- and right-handed platoon at first base, with both players offering depth options in the outfield and strong pinch-hitting candidates off the bench.
Smith was in the Red Sox lineup on Wednesday night and described his last 24 hours as a “whirlwind.”
“I didn’t expect to be here,” Smith said. “It happened pretty fast.”
After his signing was official just 39 minutes before the first pitch, Smith went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the Red Sox's 6-2 win at Fenway Park.
Smith’s opt-out technically became official on Wednesday, but the process of finding a new team began 48–72 hours prior.
On Sunday, the Rays told the veteran he could begin to reach out to new potential teams. Smith agreed to terms with Boston on Tuesday afternoon and underwent a physical on Wednesday morning.
“They (the Rays) told me from the beginning that if there’s an opportunity somewhere else, they won’t hold me back,” Smith said to reporters. “We talked on Sunday. They said we could start reaching out to teams. ... I have nothing but respect for them for that. And that’s the only way I’d be here today, because they could have dragged it out for a little bit longer. But we’re here today and happy to be a part of the Red Sox. That’s just great to say.”
Smith spent the majority of his career with the Mets and played 153 games with the Nationals last season. The California native hit .254 with 12 homers and 46 RBI and posted a .692 OPS. Despite having a successful and healthy season, Smith settled for a minor league pact.
The Sox’ new first baseman is excited to be with the club and to get the opportunity to play in front of fans at Fenway Park.
“This is the best organization to be a part of,” Smith said. “The history here. Actually the fan base, there’s no better place to play, in my opinion. You feel the history when you go out onto the field. Even as a visiting ballplayer, I would feel it. So to come here today as a home player is really surreal.”
