The Rays have signed catcher Kevan Smith to a minor league deal with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp, per MLBTR owner Tim Dierkes.
Smith had been identified by our Homin Lee back in December as a right-handed hitting catcher who could help balance the Rays roster next season, thanks to his name popping up as one of three free agent catchers with at least 300 PA vs LHP from 2017-2019 with good results: 120 wRC+ over the last three seasons, 145 wRC+ in 2019.
With a track record that strong in the batter’s box, he will be a leading candidate in the competition for back up back stop in 2020, so long as he can overcome his reputation as a bad defender.