San Francisco Giants Acquire LHP Will Smith From Brewers In Exchange For Minor League RHP Phil Bickford And C Andrew Susac

Giants Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Giants have acquired left-handed pitcher Will Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Evans announced today.

Smith, 27, has appeared in 27 games this season, posting a 1-3 record with a 3.68 ERA (9er, 22.0ip), while recording 22 strikeouts, compared to nine walks. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder has held opponents to a .225 (18-for-80) average against. He started the season on the disabled list with a LCL sprain in his right knee and missed the Brewers first 52 games.

The Georgia native was tied for the fifth-most appearances in the National League in 2015 (76), and posted a 2.70 ERA (19er, 63.1ip). Smith also finished the 2015 season with the second-most strikeouts among relievers in the National League (91), behind only Aroldis Chapman.

The left-hander was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 First-Year Player draft by the Los Angeles Angels. Smith has appeared in parts of five seasons in the Majors with the Royals (2012-2013) and the Brewers (2014-2016). In 216 career appearances, he’s posted a 17-18 record with a 3.94 ERA (120er, 274.0ip), while holding lefties to a .253 batting average against (98-for-387).

Susac, 26, is batting .273 (57-for-209) with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI in 58 games with triple-A Sacramento. He was selected by San Francisco in the second round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Bickford, 21, has combined to go 5-6 with a 2.71 ERA (28er, 93.0ip) in 17 starts between low-A Augusta and high-A San Jose. He was the Giants’ first overall selection in the 2015 First-Year Player draft and entered the 2016 season ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ 3rd-best prospect.

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