Apparently not having an actual general manager following the firing of Josh Byrnes isn’t stopping the Padres from making significant moves, as the team announced that they’ve agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract extension with outfielder Seth Smith.
Smith is in the middle of a career-year, hitting .281 with nine homers and an .890 OPS in 72 games, but he’s also 31 years old, batted just .246 with a .738 OPS in 242 games for the A’s over the previous two seasons despite often being held out of the lineup versus left-handed pitchers as part of a platoon, and has hit below .200 versus lefties this season.
It’s not exactly franchise-altering money or anything, but Smith seemed to be a prime trade candidate considering his age, higher than expected production, and the Padres’ struggles. Instead they just signed a good but not great platoon corner outfielder through his age-33 season with a team option for 2017.
