The Arizona Diamondbacks will pay Pavin Smith $1.5 million this season after the two parties reportedly settled to avoid arbitration, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Wednesday.
The number is a 50% bump from what Smith made in 2024. He will have two more years of arbitration before he can first reach unrestricted free agency ahead of 2028, when he would be 32 years old.
Smith enters 2025 as an option at first base after the D-backs lost Christian Walker to the Houston Astros. The team also saw midseason pickup and veteran Josh Bell sign with the Washington Nationals.
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Diamondbacks plan to be 'creative' keeping Pavin Smith in lineup
In December, Arizona general manager Mike Hazen was open about the potential of Walker leaving pointing to a bigger role for Smith.
“We think Pavin deserves some chance to get at-bats versus righties,” Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo. “He did a great job for us when he was up last year. I don’t think he’s ever got a real extended run. He’ll fit in the mix somewhere in this whole entire puzzle that we’ll put together.”
Hazen maintained that stance into Winter Meetings. The reasoning begins with Smith’s bat.
Smith slashed .270/.348/.547 with a career-high .896 OPS last season in 60 games.
He produced 11 doubles, nine home runs and 36 RBIs with 18 walks to 31 strikeouts, the latter a ratio he’s drastically improved since he was heavily utilized over 145 games during the 2021 season.
Smith actually played more games at each of left (16) and right field (16) compared to first base (11). He got three cracks as designated hitter and 15 appearances as a pinch-hitter.
Whatever roles Smith finds himself in, he’ll have to prove he can hit lefties before he’s an everyday player.
The Diamondbacks protected Smith from matching up against left-handed pitchers, where he hit .200 with a .754 OPS in just 23 total plate appearances last season.
In 135 plate appearances against righties, he batted .282 with a .920 OPS.
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