Overview

• Veteran left-handed reliever Will Smith has agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Kansas City Royals.
• Smith, 34, previously played for the Royals at the start of his major league career and has since won three consecutive World Series titles with different teams.
• Smith has pitched in 557 regular-season games since 2013, more than all but a dozen relievers, and has a career ERA of 3.67 with 113 saves.
• Despite a dip in his strikeout rate this year, Smith's walks also dropped, and he allowed only 0.78 home runs per nine.
• The Royals' bullpen had the worst ERA in the American League last season, and the team is looking to strengthen its pitching staff.