He turned out to be a bright spot for the San Francisco Giants this season. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, the team would like to re-sign him, though they acknowledge fitting him onto the roster could be challenging.
The SF Giants would like to reunite with veteran first baseman, but will he be back?
The Giants brought in Dominic Smith in early June as LaMonte Wade Jr. struggled, hoping for at least steady production. Instead, Smith outperformed expectations.
In 225 plate appearances, he hit .284/.333/.417 (111 wRC+) with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 26 runs, while posting a 6.7% walk rate, 18.7% strikeout rate, and .132 ISO. Though not a power hitter, his ability to make contact and deliver with runners on base stood out, along with solid defense at first base.
Ideally, San Francisco would like more players of Smith’s profile, but fitting him on the roster is difficult. First base is already covered by Rafael Devers, with Bryce Eldridge projected to share time there and at DH in the near future.
Smith has limited outfield experience—he even made a brief appearance in right field this season—but defensive metrics show him as a below-average option, and outfield defense is already an area of concern for the Giants.
Despite that, the Giants are interested in re-signing the 30-year-old after his strong showing. The bigger question is whether it makes sense for Smith. With Devers entrenched at first and Eldridge expected to take on a big role soon, Smith’s opportunities could vanish once Eldridge is called up.
As a nine-year veteran, Smith will likely seek a situation with a clearer path to regular at-bats—something the Giants may not be able to provide.
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