For the 2016 season, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville Sounds.
On August 6, 2016, he was added to the 40-man roster and was brought up to the MLB with the Oakland A's.
He was added due to the injury to A's ace Sonny Gray and catcher Josh Phegley.
He made his first MLB appearance in nearly six years on August 7, 2016 for the Oakland A's.
He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out Dexter Fowler.
He was sent outright to Triple-A after the 2016 season.
On June 7, 2017, Smith pitched the first six innings of a combined no-hitter for the Sounds against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
He was relieved by Sean Doolittle, Tucker Healy, and Simón Castro who pitched one inning each.
Smith was called up again to the Athletics on July 8, 2017, to make a spot start against the Mariners.
At age 36, Smith became the oldest player to make his first career start with the Athletics in 117 years.
He was sent outright to Triple-A after the 2017 season and elected to become a free agent.

In November, 2018, the Oakland Athletics announced Chris Smith had been hired to be the pitching coach of High-A Stockton Ports.
For the 2016 season, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville Sounds. On August 6, 2016, he was added to the 40-man roster and was brought up to the MLB with the Oakland A's. He was added due to the injury to A's ace Sonny Gray and catcher Josh Phegley. He made his first MLB appearance in nearly six years on August 7, 2016 for the Oakland A's. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out Dexter Fowler. He was sent outright to Triple-A after the 2016 season. On June 7, 2017, Smith pitched the first six innings of a combined no-hitter for the Sounds against the Omaha Storm Chasers. He was relieved by Sean Doolittle, Tucker Healy, and Simón Castro who pitched one inning each. Smith was called up again to the Athletics on July 8, 2017, to make a spot start against the Mariners. At age 36, Smith became the oldest player to make his first career start with the Athletics in 117 years. He was sent outright to Triple-A after the 2017 season and elected to become a free agent.
In November, 2018, the Oakland Athletics announced Chris Smith had been hired to be the pitching coach of High-A Stockton Ports.
Chris Smith (pitcher, born 1981)