Mallex Smith

Mallex Smith

31-Year-Old OutfielderOF
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Mallex Smith in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Blue Jays in November of 2021. Released by the Blue Jays in June of 2022.
Cut by Toronto
OFFree Agent  
June 14, 2022
The Blue Jays released Smith from his minor-league deal June 1.
ANALYSIS
Smith lost his spot on Triple-A Buffalo's roster after slashing .195/.319/.208 with an 11-for-13 success rate on stolen-base attempts across 91 plate appearances. The 29-year-old still possesses high-end speed, but his shoddy outfield defense and lack of power and on-base skills could make it difficult for him to resurface in the big leagues. He last appeared in the majors in 2020, when he played in 14 games for Seattle.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Mallex Smith See More
MLB Barometer: Winners and Losers From the First Week
218 days ago
Erik Halterman's first Barometer of the season focuses primarily on players whose roles have changed for better or worse, but in Shane Bieber's case, his two strong starts are highlighted.
Top 400 MLB Prospect Rankings Update
July 27, 2023
James Anderson answers questions from subscribers about his fully-updated top 400 prospect rankings, in which Giants outfielder Luis Matos remains highly ranked.
Collette Calls: The Homestretch
August 8, 2022
Jason Collette examines everything that's possible down the stretch by taking a look at some of the best stretch runs of the past few seasons.
MLB: Top 400 Prospects Update
April 5, 2022
James Anderson elaborates on some of the most notable risers in the latest update to his top 400 prospect rankings, in which CJ Abrams gets a slight bump thanks to loud spring.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Smith opened the season as a starter, but an early slump cost him playing time. After he continued to struggle, the Mariners optioned Smith to their alternate training site in mid-August before outrighting him off the 40-man roster in early September. Smith ended the season with a career-worst .348 OPS and only two steals in 14 games. He elected free agency, signed a minor-league deal with the Mets and will try to win a job as a reserve outfielder in spring training. With the club clearly in win-now mode, it's hard to envision Smith being anything more than a pinch runner and defensive replacement, if he even makes the roster. He's worth tracking in camp as Smith will essentially be auditioning for all 30 teams.
While conventional analysis applies to players of Smith's ilk, it comes with an asterisk. His fourth percentile average exit velocity puts Smith at the mercy of a few more line drives or well-placed grounders he can beat out. Last season, Smith's groundball rate remained around 50%, but 5% of his line drives from 2018 were flyballs last season, helping to torpedo his batting average almost 70 points. A career-worst 24.9 K% didn't help matters. When he managed to get on, Smith delivered with an MLB-best 46 steals. His 2020 role is unclear as Seattle is flush with young outfielders at the major-league level with more on the way. A .300 OBP won't cut it, even with a bounty of swipes. That said, some positive hit-rate regression is likely along with a reversion to previous contact levels. Even so, without the likelihood of at least 500 plate appearances, Smith is simply a high-risk steals flier in roto leagues.
Tampa Bay moved Smith back to Seattle this offseason, which ups his fantasy appeal significantly. He grew as a hitter in his third season against big-league pitching, and you could see it as the season went on. Smith hit .284/.348/.388 in the first half with an 8% walk rate and 20% strikeout rate, but got smoking hot after the break to the tune of .311/.390/.429 line with a 10% walk rate and a 16% strikeout rate. Smith will at times try to do more with his bat than he can and will have lapses in the running game when he trusts his legs more than he should. He can man all three outfield positions, but only grades out decently in left field. Fortunately, Seattle doesn't have any better options in center field in 2019. Smith will likely hit leadoff and should be able to repeat 40 steals since he will have an everyday job at the top of the lineup.
The Rays' crowded outfield and Smith's struggles led to three demotions to Triple-A in 2017. For the season, he went only 16-for-24 on the bases (66.7 percent). Smith must improve his efficiency or win a bigger role to maximize his 80-grade wheels. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder may display more pop eventually, but he currently lives off groundballs (career 54.7 percentage). Still, his walks (8.7 percent) make up for his shaky contact rate (72.2 percent), and the lefty bat's improvement against southpaws last year (.268 in 41 at-bats) bodes well for a consistently useful batting average, close to his .270 mark from last year. While Denard Span further complicates the outfield in Tampa Bay, the rebuilding Rays want to continue examining Smith, who turns 25 in May, and at his peak, could consistently rank among the best base stealers in the game. Such upside is always in fantasy demand, making Smith a risky but logical sleeper in deeper formats.
Smith is a one-tool player, but it is a special tool. He does not have power, but man does he have speed. He is one of the legitimate 80-tool speedsters in the league, which is what makes him so enticing at a time when stolen bases are becoming more and more scarce. Smith has stolen base totals of 64, 88 and 57 over his past three seasons in the minor leagues and threw in another 16 steals last year in 72 games with Atlanta. His season was shortened by a broken thumb but also had a tough time finding at-bats with Ender Inciarte, Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis eating up the playing time. The speedster's playing time situation is still fairly murky following a trade to Tampa Bay, as it's still unclear whether he'll act in strong side of a platoon in the outfield or if he'll be sent back to Triple-A for more consistent at-bats. Smith knows how to take a walk and can make contact, so the pieces are there for a 40-steal season with playing time as long as he can keep the bat in his hands and not have it knocked out with fastballs. Remember the Billy Hamilton learning curve.
Elite speed is Smith's calling card and that tool was on full display once again last season, as he swiped 57 bases in 70 attempts between Double-A and Triple-A after totaling 88 steals in 2014 and 64 in 2013. He coupled that speed with a strong approach and good contact skills, hitting above .300 with for a second straight season with a career-low 14.3% strikeout rate. Power will never be a big part of the package with Smith, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound center fielder, but he has the potential to be a solid three-category fantasy contributor in time. Offseason trade acquisition Ender Inciarte appears likely to open the year in center field for the big club, but Smith could push Inciarte to left by midseason if he gets off to a strong start while possibly earning a spot at or near the top of the Atlanta batting order.
More Fantasy News
Back with Blue Jays on minors deal
OFToronto Blue Jays  
November 29, 2021
Smith signed with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Dealt to Toronto
OFToronto Blue Jays  
August 14, 2021
Smith was traded from the Reds to the Blue Jays on Saturday and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
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Signs with Reds organization
OFCincinnati Reds  
June 29, 2021
Smith signed a minor-league deal with the Reds and will likely be assigned to Triple-A Louisville, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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Headed to MiLB camp
OFNew York Mets  
March 28, 2021
Smith was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday.
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Links up with Mets
OFNew York Mets  
November 4, 2020
Smith signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on Wednesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be on move again
OFSeattle Mariners  
October 4, 2019
General manager Jerry Dipoto will likely look to trade Smith this winter, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Divish says that trading Smith "isn't a priority" and notes that Smith's trade value has never been lower, but it sounds like Dipoto would like to move Smith if he can, presumably to clear a spot for Jake Fraley in the outfield. Smith chipped in 46 steals this season but in total was exactly a replacement-level player, per FanGraphs' WAR. The 26-year-old is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility.
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