Left-handed reliever Will Smith is set to return to where it all began by signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, ESPN reported Sunday.

Smith was with the Royals for his first two major league seasons in 2012 and 2013. The 34-year-old won a World Series ring last season with the Texas Rangers when he went 2-7 with a 4.40 ERA and 22 saves in 60 regular-season appearances.

In five postseason appearances in 2023 (3 1/3 innings), Smith had a 10.80 ERA. He made two appearances in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 13.50 ERA.

In his 11 major league seasons with six different teams, Smith is 33-41 with a 3.67 ERA in 573 appearances (17 starts) and has 113 saves. He was an All-Star in 2019 as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Smith has won a World Series ring in three consecutive seasons, getting one in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves and another in 2022 with the Houston Astros, although he didn’t pitch in that series.

–Field Level Media