TAMPA -- First baseman Dominic Smith opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees on Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN, deciding to become a free agent after a productive spring with the club.
Smith, 29, signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Yankees in January, looking to compete for a bench spot. He had until Friday afternoon to opt out of his contract if the Yankees did not place him on their 40-man roster.
The veteran, a former first-round pick of the New York Mets in 2013, slashed .