Justin Smoak Finalizing Deal To Play In Japan
4 years agoVeteran first baseman Justin Smoak is finalizing a deal with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal will guarantee him between $6 million and $7 million. The 34-year-old joins a Giants team that won the Central League last year but lost the Japan Series as the country's oldest professional team. Smoak spent last year with the Brewers and Giants and hit five home runs with just a .176 batting average. Before the shortened 2020 season, the left-handed slugger was an All-Star in 2017 with the Blue Jays when he had career-highs in home runs (38) and RBI (90). The first baseman/designated hitter will head to Japan, where he hopes he can re-establish himself and come back to the States in 2022.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan