{"id":27478,"date":"2019-12-19T13:51:58","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T18:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=27478"},"modified":"2019-12-19T13:51:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-19T18:51:58","slug":"milwaukee-brewers-sign-justin-smoak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/12\/19\/milwaukee-brewers-sign-justin-smoak\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee Brewers Sign Justin Smoak"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Milwaukee Brewers Sign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smoakju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Smoak<\/a><\/h1>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/mlb-teams\/milwaukee-brewers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> have signed free agent first basemen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smoakju01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Justin Smoak<\/strong><\/a>. The contract is for one year at five million dollars and a five and a half million club option for 2021. The deal is pending Smoak passing a physical. Smoak will make four million this year with a one million dollar buyout. This will guarantee Smoak will make five million in 2020.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here\u2019s the $ on Smoak. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/brewers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#brewers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Ken_Rosenthal<\/a> also on top of it <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BINWPaDfHM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/BINWPaDfHM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonHeyman\/status\/1207687202672709635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 19, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Justin Smoak&#8217;s Career<\/h2>\n<p>Justin Smoak 32, is a 12-year veteran first baseman who is joining his fourth organization in his career. Smoak has a career batting average of .231 with 191 HR and 555 RBI. Smoak has always been a player who won&#8217;t hit for a high average. His career-best was .270 in 2017 with the Toronto Blue Jays. But he has power and is considered a plus defender at first base.<\/p>\n<p>Smoak made his Major League debut with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/mlb-teams\/texas-rangers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Texas Rangers<\/a> in 2010. His Rangers career was brief as he was traded to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/mlb-teams\/seattle-mariners\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Seattle Mariners<\/a> that same year for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=leecl02,leecl01&amp;search=Cliff+Lee&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cliff Lee<\/a>. Smoak was a Mariner through the 2014 season but was waived when the season ended. The Blue Jays claimed Smoak on waivers in December of 2014.<\/p>\n<p>As a Blue Jay Smoak has had his best seasons. In his five year career in Toronto Smoak has hit 117 HR and driven in 321 runs. Despite his low batting average of .226 Smoak has been a productive offensive player. Smoak averages about a strikeout for every four at-bats.<\/p>\n<h2>Brewers Outlook<\/h2>\n<p>This has been a very busy offseason for the Brewers. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/healyry01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryon Healy<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sogarer01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Sogard<\/a><\/strong> were both signed for their depth and versatility. After losing <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moustmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Moustakas<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grandya01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yasmani Grandal<\/a><\/strong> to free agency and releasing <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thameer01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Thames<\/a><\/strong> the Brewers have money to spend with holes to fill.<\/p>\n<p>Catcher <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/n\/narvaom01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Omar Narvaez<\/a><\/strong> was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/2019\/12\/05\/milwaukee-brewers-to-acquire-omar-narvaez\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">added in a trade<\/a> to replace Grandal. Outfielder <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grishtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trent Grisham<\/a><\/strong> and pitcher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/davieza02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Zach Davies<\/strong><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/2019\/11\/27\/padres-and-brewers-make-blockbuster-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">were also traded<\/a> for infielder <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/u\/uriaslu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luis Urias<\/a><\/strong> and pitcher <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lauerer01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Lauer<\/a><\/strong>. Outfielder <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/garciav01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Avisail Garcia<\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/2019\/12\/16\/avisail-garcia-signs-with-milwaukee-brewers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">was signed<\/a> to join <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cainlo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lorenzo Cain<\/a><\/strong> and a healthy <strong>Christain Yelich<\/strong> in a now formidable outfield. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=braunry02,braunry01&amp;search=Ryan+Braun&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Braun<\/a><\/strong> will be used in the outfield as well as first base.<\/p>\n<p>The Brewers have signed free agent starting pitchers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lindbjo01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Josh Lindblom<\/strong><\/a> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anderbr04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brett Anderson<\/a><\/strong>. They join a rotation anchored by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/woodrbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Woodruff<\/a><\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/housead01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adrian Houser<\/a><\/strong> and Lauer also round out the rotation. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suterbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brent Suter<\/a><\/strong> now one year removed from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tommy John<\/a><\/strong> surgery could also make the starting rotation.<\/p>\n<p>After losing the Wild Card game to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/mlb-teams\/washington-nationals\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington Nationals<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/2019\/10\/02\/washuington-nationals-juan-soto-clutch-in-win\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">heartbreaking fashion<\/a> the Brewers are loading up or another run. With an excellent everyday lineup and an improved pitching staff, 2020 could be the year the Brewers make their first World Series appearance since 1982.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Milwaukee Brewers Sign Justin Smoak The Milwaukee Brewers have signed free agent first basemen Justin Smoak. The contract is for one year at five million dollars and a five and a half million club option for 2021. The deal is pending Smoak passing a physical. Smoak will make four million this year with a one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":653,"featured_media":27481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27,2],"tags":[1098,507],"class_list":["post-27478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brewers","category-featured","tag-justin-smoak","tag-milwaukee-brewers"],"modified_by":"Jared Cantatore","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27478"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27478\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}