Will Smith was among the Los Angeles Dodgers players who avoided arbitration for the 2024 season by signing a one-year, $8.55 million contract. It represented the richest deal for a catcher going through his second year of arbitration.
Smith is entering his sixth season with the Dodgers and will be eligible for salary arbitration again in 2025 before potentially becoming a free agent.
As of last month, the Dodgers reportedly had not held any contract extension discussions with Smith, who is in line to receive a deal that should make him one of the highest-paid catchers.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers and Smith still have not started talks on a potential contract extension as the start of Spring Training arrived:
There still have been no talks between the two sides on an extension, Smith told me this week.
Smith has been one of the Dodgers’ most important players in recent years and figures to be a priority to retain. The 28-year-old could sign a deal similar to that of J.T. Realmuto, who will earn $23.875 million this season as part of the five-year contract he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Smith is coming off an All-Star season that saw him hit .261/.359/.438 with 21 doubles, 19 home runs and 76 RBI. He had a stellar first half before going into a prolonged slump after the All-Star break.
Smith remained productive while playing through a fractured rib in the first half, but results at the plate tailed off despite getting healthy. Smith also dealt with a concussion that caused him to miss nearly two weeks in April.
But he was one of the few Dodgers who found success during the National League Division Series as Smith went 5-for-12 with a double, triple and two RBI in three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Will Smith ranked among best catchers
Smith again represented the Dodgers on The Shredder rankings of the Top-10 Catchers Right now heading into the 2024 season with a placement at No. 2.
It’s the second consecutive year Smith was ranked the second-best catcher in all of baseball. Ahead of Smith is the Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman for his first time sitting atop The Shredder’s annual list.
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