Braves Sign Ex-Top Prospect Dominic Smith to Minor League Deal

The former Mets and Red Sox first baseman spent last spring training with the Yankees.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 8:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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The Atlanta Braves have signed first baseman Dominic Smith to a minor league contract. Smith, a former top prospect with the New York Mets, has played for several teams in recent years and is looking to revive his career with the Braves. He had a productive stint with the San Francisco Giants in 2025 after opting out of a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.

Why it matters

The Braves are always looking to add depth and potential impact players to their roster, especially on low-risk, high-reward minor league deals. Smith's past prospect pedigree and recent success with the Giants make him an intriguing addition as the Braves look to defend their NL East title.

The details

Smith, 30, was a former first-round pick of the Mets but never quite lived up to expectations in New York, hitting .246/.308/.424 with a .733 OPS in 447 games from 2017-22. He's played for several teams since then, including the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. Last spring, Smith had a strong showing with the Yankees before opting out of his contract and landing with the Giants, where he hit 5 home runs with 33 RBIs and a 114 OPS+ in 63 games.

  • Smith signed his minor league deal with the Braves on February 17, 2026.
  • In 2025, Smith had a productive 63-game stint with the San Francisco Giants.

The players

Dominic Smith

A 30-year-old first baseman who was a former top prospect with the New York Mets but has bounced around the league in recent years, looking to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves on a minor league deal.

Matt Olson

The Braves' starting first baseman, making it a challenge for Smith to find playing time at the major league level.

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What’s next

Smith will look to impress the Braves coaching staff during spring training in order to earn a spot on the major league roster.

The takeaway

The Braves are taking a low-risk flyer on a former top prospect in Dominic Smith, hoping he can recapture his past form and provide depth and potential impact at first base for the defending NL East champions.