FLUSHING, N.Y., July 27, 2017 - The New York Mets today announced that they have acquired righthanded pitcher Drew Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder Lucas Duda. Smith will report to Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League. Smith was the Rays' No. 30 prospect according to MLB.com.
Smith, 23, was the Tigers' third-round pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft of out Dallas Baptist University before being acquired by Tampa Bay on April 28, 2017 as the player to be named later to complete an earlier trade that sent Mikie Mahtook to Detroit on January 18, 2017.
He began the season with Lakeland (A) of the Florida State League and was 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA (one earned run/11.2 innings) in seven games before being assigned to Charlotte (A) of the Florida State League following the trade. In 20 games with the Stone Crabs, Smith was 0-2 with a 2.20 ERA (seven earned runs/28.2 innings), seven saves and 28 strikeouts.
On July 2, Smith was promoted to Durham (AAA) of the International League where he made one appearance of 1.0 scoreless inning before being assigned to Montgomery (AA) of the Southern League on July 18. In 31 combined games for Lakeland, Charlotte, Montgomery and Durham this season, Smith is 1-2 with a 1.60 ERA (13 earned runs/45.0 innings) with seven saves and 40 strikeouts.
In 79 career minor league games, all relief appearances, Smith is 5-4 with a 1.80 ERA (25 earned runs/124.2 innings pitched) with 13 saves and 140 strikeouts.
Duda, who was drafted by the Mets in 2007, played all of his 760 career major league games for the Mets after making his major league debut in 2010. Duda's 125 home runs in a Mets uniform are seventh-most in team history and his 71 homers at Citi Field are the most in the ballpark's history.