Blue Jays trade Joe Smith to Indians. He’ll be close to his ailing mom now
The most heartwarming trade at Monday’s deadline: The Toronto Blue Jays traded reliever Joe Smith to the Cleveland Indians.
Smith, who played three years with the Angels, is having a fine season. He’ll fortify an already strong Cleveland bullpen as the Indians try to return to the World Series.
But the best part of the deal: Smith will play in a city within driving distance of his mother, who has Huntington’s disease. Smith, who previously played for the Indians, participated in a fundraiser in Cleveland just last week.
When the Angels put him on the trade block last summer — they sent him to the Chicago Cubs — Smith said he thought his mother would have mixed feelings about a trade to the Indians.
“She would feel guilty for pulling me away,” Smith said. “She wants me to play baseball and win a World Series. At the same time, I want to be by her. She wants me close, but she would never say that.”
Smith’s wife, sports media personality Allie LaForce, tweeted:
Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
