'I can't trade myself': Dominic Smith remaining focused with Mets amid trade rumors

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Some of the biggest ovations on Monday afternoon at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches came for Dominic Smith.

In the wake of trade rumors late last week that signaled that Smith was headed to San Diego, Mets fans made sure that the 26-year-old heard their support.

And Smith helped the cause with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning that provided the Mets with their lone three runs in a 3-3 tie against the Astros.

"It is what it is, but I'm here," Smith said after he delivered two more hits to raise his spring batting average to .440. "Like I told you all, I don't think I'll be traded until it happens. I'm happy to be here, happy to be a Met and I love the organization and the city and I love this team."

After the news broke that Jacob deGrom had to be shut down for at least four weeks, a rumor, first reported by The Athletic, popped up on Saturday that the Mets and Padres were engaged in a trade that would send Smith west and Eric Hosmer and Chris Paddack to New York.

But those talks apparently hit a snag, leaving Smith as an odd man out of a starting spot in the outfield, at first base or in the designated hitter spot in the Mets' deep lineup.

"Guys who aren’t good players don’t get talked about a lot," Showalter said . "When something’s viewed as surplus, we don’t view it as such. We view it as an asset. This isn’t his first time staying away from the noise."

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The Mets signed Starling Marte to a four-year, $78 million contract in the offseason, and Showalter has been helping him make an adjustment to right field. They also added outfielder Mark Canha on a two-year, $26.5 million deal.

Robinson Cano is returning from a yearlong suspension after his second positive test for performance-enhancing drugs and is due to make $20.25 million this year for the Mets, according to Spotrac, so he figures to be heavily featured in the designated hitter role. In eight spring training games, Cano is hitting .360 with nine hits and three runs scored.

Despite reports, Smith said Monday he never said he wanted to be traded or would rather be elsewhere playing full-time.

"If the opportunity's out there, who wouldn't want to play every day?" Smith said. "Those exact words didn't come from my mouth, but I'm here, it's out of my control. I can't trade myself and I can't put myself in the lineup. All I can do is show what I can and that's what I do there out on the field."

Smith has been hard to ignore this spring. He is also swinging a hot bat, racking up a .440 batting average in 25 at-bats with two home runs, three doubles, four runs and six RBIs.

Last season, Smith played 115 games in left field, 15 at first base and two as the team's designated hitter. After batting .316 in 50 games in 2020, Smith slashed .244/.304/.363 with 11 home runs, 58 RBIs and 43 runs last season.

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He began his career with first base as his everyday position but shifted into the outfield with Pete Alonso occupying that spot.

Now, with the Mets' latest additions, Smith is not exactly sure where he will find himself on the field, but he'll be ready when his number is called.

"That's still another thing that's out of my pay grade and my control," Smith said. "All I know is I'm a Mets player and I work and play for this organization. All I can do is show up every day and play hard and do what I can to help this team win ball games and that's what I'm here to do."

Andrew Tredinnick is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: atredinnick@gannett.com Twitter: @andrew_tred

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Dominic Smith on trade rumors, NY Mets lineup and position