Orioles sign Tim Smith to minor league deal

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

January 08, 2013, 2:48pm

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While the speculation mounts over the Orioles' pursuit of Nationals first baseman Michael Morse, they continue to focus on improving the depth in their minor league system. The Orioles have signed outfielder Tim Smith, 26, to a minor league deal. He hasn't received an invitation to spring training. Smith tweeted the news earlier tonight, and a club official confirmed the signing. Smith batted .288/.372/.386 in 70 games with Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Mississippi of the Atlanta Braves organization. He's a career .303/.371/.448 hitter with 44 homers and 259 RBIs in 456 games over parts of six minor league seasons. He's never played above the Double-A level. The Texas Rangers selected Smith, a left-handed hitter, in the seventh round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University. The Toronto native also was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 17th round (2005) and the New York Mets in the 21st round (2004). Smith has played all three outfield positions, the vast majority in left. He also played two games at first base. Smith scored the winning run for Team Canada in the gold medal game at the 2011 Pan Am Games. He also represented Canada in the 2009 Baseball World Cup.