The Nationals unconditionally released Smith on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Smith missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He inked a minor-league deal with the Nationals in mid-February with an invitation to spring training and appeared in six Grapefruit League games, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven across 5.1 scoreless innings. Smith's unconditional release means he'll be free to sign with another team looking to bolster its bullpen depth.

Smith (elbow) completed a bullpen session Wednesday and said that he's under no restrictions during spring training, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith didn't pitch at any point in 2025 after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2024, but he said that he made a complete recovery by the end of last season. After the Mets declined his team option for 2026 back in November, Smith sat on the open market for more than three months before landing a minor-league deal with Washington earlier this week. Though Smith isn't currently on the 40-man roster, a solid spring should put him in good position to break camp with the Nationals, given their lack of experienced relief arms. The 32-year-old owns a 3.06 ERA over 192 career big-league appearances, all of which came with the Mets.

Smith (elbow) agreed Monday with the Nationals on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Michelle Margaux of SNY.tv reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Margaux, Smith's deal will be worth $1.75 million if he makes the Opening Day roster and includes up to $1.25 million in performance-related bonuses. The 32-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2025 season while on the mend from July 2024 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, but he could be at or near full health at this point. If Smith proves during spring training that he's regained his pre-surgery velocity and command, he could quickly earn a high-leverage role in an unsettled Washington bullpen. Over parts of six big-league seasons, Smith owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15.2 K-BB% over 191 appearances, all of which came with the Mets.

The Mets declined Smith's (elbow) $2 million option for 2026 on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith didn't pitch at all in 2025 after having Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in July 2024. He is expected to be ready for the beginning of next season, but the Mets decided against bringing him back at the $2 million rate his option required. Smith has a career 3.48 ERA and 24.5 percent strikeout rate, so the 32-year-old reliever should draw interest in free agency.

The Mets announced July 29 that Smith (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions and could be close to facing live hitters in batting practice, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Updates on Smith's rehab from his July 2024 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace have been scarce over the past month, but assuming he's experienced no setbacks during the ramp-up process, he could have an outside shot at returning from the 60-day injured list in September. Before suffering the elbow injury last summer, Smith had been an integral piece in the New York bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA while collecting two saves and six holds over his 19 appearances in 2024.

Smith (elbow) has been playing catch from 120 feet up to three times per week and threw 10 pitches from halfway up the mound earlier this week, Joe Pantorno of AMNY.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coming back from his second Tommy John surgery, Smith hopes to throw from the top of the bump in 2-to-3 weeks. The goal for the reliever is to begin a rehab assignment later this summer and return to the Mets before the end of the season, although he might not make it back until 2026. The Mets re-signed Smith in February to a one-year deal with a club option for next season.

The Mets placed Smith (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Smith signed a one-year deal with the Mets on Wednesday that includes a club option for 2026. However, he isn't expected to pitch until very late in the season, if at all, after undergoing a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure in July, so New York will move him to the 60-day IL to conserve a spot on its 40-man roster.

Smith (elbow) agreed Wednesday with the Mets on a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2026, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Smith will earn $1 million in 2025, and the 2026 club option is for $2 million, with the potential to climb if he achieves performance-based incentives. Smith is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after he underwent a Tommy John and internal brace hybrid procedure on his right elbow this past July, but he'll be able to conduct his rehab within a team setting after re-signing with the Mets. Before getting the second Tommy John surgery of his career during the summer and then becoming a free agent in November, Smith turned in a 3.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB across 17.2 innings over 19 appearances out of the Mets bullpen in 2024.

Smith underwent Tommy John ligament construction surgery Friday, which included an internal brace procedure, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DiComo describes the procedure as "full-blown Tommy John ligament reconstruction" and indicates that it means Smith will be sidelined for 12-to-18 months. With that in mind, the reliever will likely miss at least half of next season and may not pitch again until 2026. He is slated to be a free agent in November.

Smith will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his right UCL on Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith sought a second opinion and ultimately won't be able to avoid going under the knife after being diagnosed with a significant tear in his right UCL. However, it remains to be determined if he'll require Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure, which would likely result in a quicker recovery. Smith is scheduled to meet with Dr. Keith Meister on Thursday to determine a plan of attack for the procedure.