Washington Nationals Sign Reliever Drew Smith to Minor League Deal

The Washington Nationals just signed right-hander Drew Smith to a minor-league deal. It’s a low-risk move with real upside and a clear path for Smith to return to the majors.

Smith missed all of last year after Tommy John surgery. His old team declined his 2026 option, so this deal gives him a legit shot to bounce back. Washington gets a bullpen arm they can control, and Smith gets a chance to prove he’s still got it.

Let’s dig into the contract, Smith’s recent ups and downs, and what this could mean for the Nationals’ bullpen in 2026.

Deal details: what the Nationals are getting

The contract basically says: if Smith stays healthy, he gets rewarded. If he makes the big-league roster out of camp, he’ll earn $1.75 million, with another $1.25 million possible in bonuses.

Smith is 32 and has pitched parts of six big-league seasons, all with the Mets. His career ERA sits at 3.48 over 191 appearances since 2018. Washington isn’t risking much, but if Smith gets back to form, he could be a solid late-inning guy.

• Base salary on the roster: $1.75 million
• Performance bonuses: up to $1.25 million
• Experience: 32-year-old right-hander with six partial MLB seasons
• Career stats: 3.48 ERA in 191 appearances (2018-2024)
• 2024 highlight: career-best 29.1% strikeout rate in 17.2 innings with two saves

Smith’s arsenal is mostly fastballs and sliders, with the occasional changeup or curve. In 2024, he started throwing a cutter more often—a pitch he barely used in the previous two years.

The cutter worked, posting a 35.8% whiff rate and helping him reach a 14.3% swinging-strike rate. When Smith’s healthy, he can miss bats.

But there are some question marks. His four-seam fastball averaged under 95 mph in 2024 for the first time, and he never made it to a rehab assignment last season. No one really knows what his velocity or stamina will look like this spring.

Why this deal makes sense for Smith and the Nationals

For Smith, this is a real shot to get back to the majors after two elbow surgeries. He missed all of 2025, so he’s got plenty to prove—especially to teams looking for veteran bullpen help with some upside.

Washington needs help in the bullpen. They traded Jose A. Ferrer, one of their steadier relievers, to Seattle. Right now, the bullpen mix is mostly non-roster guys and untested arms—Trevor Gott, Cionel Perez, Zach Penrod, and a few others trying to win jobs.

Smith brings actual big-league experience and a pitch mix that could play up if his velocity returns. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for a team that desperately needs reliable late-inning options. If Smith’s right, he could be a sneaky good addition.

Path back to the majors: the road ahead

To grab a major-league spot, Smith has to show he’s bounced back from elbow surgery. He’ll need to throw hard and keep his stuff sharp.

There’s no 2025 rehab stint planned, so he’s got to impress right away in spring training. If his fastball has life and his breaking pitches bite, maybe he lands a setup job or becomes a flexible late-inning option for Washington.

The Nationals’ bullpen ERA last season? Not great. That gives them every reason to take a shot on a veteran who can strike guys out and eat up relief innings when things get tight.

Some big questions still hang over all this:

• Velocity and command: Can he really get that four-seamer back above 95 mph?
• Strikeout ability: Will he recapture those swing-and-miss numbers after the injury?
• Role clarity: Is he a middle-relief guy, or can he push into high-leverage work if he looks sharp in camp?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Nationals To Sign Drew Smith To Minor League Deal