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Blue Jays trade Joe Smith to Indians. He’ll be close to his ailing mom now

Joe Smith delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. The Blue Jays traded Smith to the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
(Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images)
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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.

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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:

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin

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