NEW YORK — An emotional Drew Smith acknowledged his future with the New York Mets is uncertain Friday, when the right-handed reliever and impending free agent said he will likely need a second reconstructive surgery on his elbow.
Smith went on the injured list with a right elbow sprain Tuesday, two days after he exited after getting two outs in the ninth inning of a 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs because he had a hard time getting loose. The 30-year-old was pressed into action and tried warming up on the field after closer Edwin Diaz was ejected for having an illegal substance on his hand.
Smith said an MRI revealed “…some pretty significant damage.” He is scheduled for a second opinion with Dr. Keith Meister but said he expects to undergo either Tommy John surgery or UCL repair with an internal brace. Smith missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
“Just sucks, you know?” said Smith, whose voice broke as tears formed in his eyes as he spoke before the Mets’ series opener against the Houston Astros. “My second one. Been with the Mets for a long time and I love this organization. They’ve done a lot for me. And obviously, going into free agency, it’s a tough time for this to happen. There’s never a good time for it to happen, but this really stings.”
Smith, who spent five weeks on the injured list with a sore right shoulder earlier this season, said he began feeling stiffness in the elbow while pitching against the Cubs on June 21. He felt better Saturday but said the discomfort returned quickly Sunday night.
“I kind of knew something was going on and I just tried to pitch through it,” Smith said. “I don’t think the warmup had anything to do with the outcome. I think it was already kind of decided.”
Smith was 1-1 with two saves and a 3.06 ERA this season and is 12-13 with a 3.48 ERA and five saves in 191 career games, all with the Mets. He was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Lucas Duda on July 27, 2017, and debuted on June 23, 2018, making him the second-longest tenured player on the team behind left fielder Brandon Nimmo.
“Not good news — it’s hard, obviously, because of who he is not only as a player but as a person, what he means to this organization,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “This is a professional. He went down early in the year, got back and was always available, always wanted to take the ball, always wanted to help the team.”
Smith is the fourth key Mets reliever on the shelf. Díaz is two games into a 10-game suspension for his ejection while Sean Reid-Foley was placed on the injured list last Saturday with a right shoulder impingement. Left-hander Brooks Raley is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure on May 29.
“We’re going to need guys to step up,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said.
The last two No. 2 overall Major League Baseball draft picks will play for the National League in the All-Star Futures Game featuring top prospects.
Washington‘s Dylan Crews, the second pick in 2023, and Arizona‘s Druw Jones (2022) headline a group that includes a dozen former first-round selections on both the National League and American League rosters. The teams were announced on Tuesday for the July 13 game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Crews is ranked as MLB’s No. 4 overall prospect by Baseball America while Jones is the Diamondbacks’ No. 3 prospect. The Detroit Tigers‘ No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, Max Clark, is among the former first-rounders on the AL team. He is rated as the Tigers’ top hitting prospect and the No. 10 overall prospect in the majors.
The game will be followed by a hitting contest before the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game.
Two former Texas Rangers stars will serve as managers. Four-time All-Star Adrian Beltre, a 2024 Hall of Fame selection, will manage the AL Futures team. Seven-time All-Star Michael Young, the 2005 American League batting champion, leads the NL team.
The seven-inning game features top minor league prospects competing as part of All-Star Saturday. The National League vs. American League format was introduced in 2019 after 20 years of U.S. vs. World matchups.
Major League Baseball, the MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs selected the 27 players named to each team. That includes 25 active players and two inactive players designated for injury/call-up replacements. Each Major League organization is represented and players from all player development leagues were eligible.
Nasim Nunez drove in three runs to lead the NL to a 5-0 victory last year in Seattle.
Of past players from past Futures Games, 87.9% have gone on to play in at least one major league game, while 232 total players (20.7%) have been selected to play in at least one Major League All-Star Game.
The 2024 NHL offseason is off to a wild start. Just four days after the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup, an epic 2024 NHL draft took place at Sphere in Las Vegas, including several big trades along with 225 prospects finding new homes.
Now it’s time for the league’s 32 front offices to add to their rosters via free agency.
Here is our continuously updated tracker, featuring a list of every player signed, along with analysis of the biggest deals and buzz on what could happen next.
Note that the newest deals are on top, denoted by date.
The Sabres have added to their goaltending depth, signing veteran James Reimer to a one-year, $1 million contract.
July 1
The goalie carousel continues to spin in Vegas. After trading Logan Thompson to the Caps and adding Akira Schmid in a deal with the Devils, they are adding Ilya Samsonov via a one-year, $1.8 million contract.
After finishing out the 2023-24 season with the Maple Leafs, 34-year-old defenseman T.J. Brodie joined the parade of veterans signing with the Blackhawks, via a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
The Oilers added a proven scorer by inking Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3 million deal following his buyout by the Sabres. They also re-signed playoff hero Mattias Janmark to a three-year, $4.35 million deal, and trade deadline acquisition Adam Henrique to a two-year, $6 million contract.
Lots of turnover in the Carolina back end this offseason, but it added a good one in 29-year-old Sean Walker, agreeing to a five-year, $18 million deal.
The Sharks continue to make wise veteran additions to their young roster, inking a two-year, $10 million deal with center Alex Wennberg.
Dallas continues its spending spree on veteran defenseman, re-signing Nils Lundkvist for one year, $1.25 million.
The NHL playing career will continue for Corey Perry, as the veteran is re-signing with the Oilers for one year, $1.4 million.
The Kings have added some size and snarl to their defense corps, inking veteran Joel Edmundson to a four-year, $15.4 million deal.
The Avalanche add to their depth on the blue line, agreeing to terms with veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan on a one-year, $800,000 deal.
Forward Anthony Beauvillier has been well-traveled the past few seasons, and he’s off to a new team again for 2024-25, inking a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Penguins.
Goaltender Jack Campbell‘s massive deal with the Oilers didn’t work out so well, and he has moved on to the Red Wings, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $775,000 contract.
The Capitals continue adding to their roster, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $1 million deal with forward Taylor Raddysh.
Another veteran defenseman has landed in Dallas: Ilya Lyubushkin is signing a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Stars.
The Islanders have finally entered the chat! Defenseman Mike Reilly is coming back on a one-year contract, while forward Anthony Duclair is heading back to the Metropolitan Division by way of a four-year, $14 million deal.
The Red Wings add to their blue-line group with former Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson, agreeing to a two-year, $4 million deal.
After finishing the 2023-24 season with the Lightning, veteran defenseman Matt Dumba is headed to the Stars by way of a two-year, $7.5 million deal. And after skating for the Devils this past season, fellow blueliner Brendan Smith is also headed to Dallas, by way of a one-year, $1 million deal.
Sam Steel is returning to the Stars, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $1.2 million contract with Dallas.
Veteran agitator Garnet Hathaway will stick with the Flyers by way of a two-year, $4.8 million extension.
Another Stanley Cup champ is leaving the Panthers, as Ryan Lomberg is signing a two-year, $4 million deal with the Flames.
Former Golden Knight forward Chandler Stephenson is heading up to Seattle, inking a seven-year, $43.75 million contract with the Kraken.
It’s a move that won’t get as much attention as signing Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei, but the Predators made an addition to their goaltending group, signing Scott Wedgewood to a two-year, $3 million deal.
The Stars have found their backup for Jake Oettinger, agreeing to terms with Casey DeSmith on a one-year, $3 million contract.
After a run to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers, forward Warren Foegele is heading to L.A., inking a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the Kings.
Veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will not be patrolling the blue line for the Bruins; instead, he’s signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Penguins.
After plying his trade for the Hurricanes in recent seasons, Stefan Noesen is headed back to the Devils, agreeing to a three-year, $8.25 million deal.
The Stars are staying in the Matt Duchene business, inking a one-year, $3 million extension with the veteran forward.
A key depth forward for the Golden Knights the past two seasons, Michael Amadio is joining the Senators by way of a three-year, $7.8 million contract.
Jonathan Drouin experienced a renaissance with the Avalanche in 2023-24, and he’ll keep it going for at least one more season, inking a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
Yet another former Bruin heading to Vancouver, as Danton Heinen is joining the Canucks via a two-year, $4.5 million contract.
Veteran goaltender Matt Murray will be back with the Maple Leafs for 2024-25, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $875,000 pact.
It was a tale of two seasons for Cam Talbot in 2023-24, as a great start gave way to a rough finish. He’ll hope for a consistently strong campaign with the Red Wings, after agreeing to a two-year, $5 million deal.
Former Bruin Jake DeBrusk has landed in Vancouver, inking a seven-year, $38.5 million deal with the Canucks.
The Capitals continue to build around the edges, inking Brandon Duhaime to a two-year, $3.7 million contract.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers, forward Kevin Stenlund is headed to the Hockey Club via a two-year, $4 million deal.
Defenseman William Carrier is signing with the Hurricanes, agreeing to terms on a six-year, $12 million contract.
Veteran forward Kiefer Sherwood is headed to Vancouver, coming to terms on a two-year, $3 million deal with the Canucks.
The Hurricanes lost some defensemen in free agency, but they’re keeping a pretty important one for the foreseeable future, agreeing to an eight-year, $51.69 million extension for Jaccob Slavin.
After re-signing Joseph Woll this offseason, the Maple Leafs added a veteran option in Anthony Stolarz via a two-year, $5 million pact.
The Sabres add a veteran scoring winger in Jason Zucker, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million pact.
Another veteran defenseman is joining the Devils, as Brenden Dillon has agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with New Jersey.
The Flames have brought back one of their own — Yegor Sharangovich for five years, $28.75 million — and an external free agent as well, in Anthony Mantha (one year, $3.5 million).
Former Stanley Cup champion David Perron will continue his NHL career with the Senators, agreeing to a two-year, $4 million contract.
Yet another veteran defenseman is headed to Utah, as Ian Cole is signing a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the Hockey Club.
The Bruins added a major boost to the center position, inking Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract.
Veteran forward Kasperi Kapanen is re-signing with the Blues, inking a one-year, $1 million deal to stay in St. Louis.
Restricted free agent forward Connor McMichael has extended his business relationship with the Capitals, inking a two-year, $4.20 million pact.
Erik Johnson played 67 games for the Flyers in 2023-24, and he’ll play some more in 2024-25, given his new one-year, $1 million deal with the club.
The Maple Leafs traded for an exclusive negotiating window with veteran defenseman Chris Tanev, and consummated that relationship on Monday via a six-year, $27 million contract. The team also finally confirmed the new deal for RFA netminder Joseph Woll (three years, $10.98 million).
After trading a 2025 third-round draft pick for Jake Guentzel‘s negotiating rights, the Lightning have sealed the deal with the forward on a seven-year, $63 million contract.
Restricted free agent center Isac Lundestrom has re-signed with the Ducks, inking a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
The Utah Hockey Club continues to work on its blue line, re-signing RFA Sean Durzi to a four-year, $24 million contract.
In need of a boost on the blue line this summer, the Maple Leafs will start with one of their own, re-signing RFA Timothy Liljegren to a two-year, $6 million contract.