Complex sentence: Shortly thereafter, Smith was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay, and he began his journey through the minors, playing for affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland A's.
Split into simpler sentences: Shortly thereafter, Smith was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay. He began his journey through the minors, playing for affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland A's.