After losing outfielder Juan Soto via free agency, the New York Yankees have been busy reloading their offense for the 2025 season. There's one final hole on the infield that needs to be filled, though. Could general manager Brian Cashman cross this item off his to-do list by trading for Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith?
The Yankees selected Smith in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. MLB.com ranked him as New York's 14th-best prospect during the 2021 season. However, Smith would never make it to the big leagues with the Yankees. He was part of the package the Bombers sent to Texas to acquire Joey Gallo at the 2021 trade deadline.
Smith made his MLB debut with Texas in 2022 as a 24-year-old. The 2024 season included career highs in games played (149) and plate appearances (592) while mostly playing third base. He hit .258/.337/.394 with 13 home runs, 30 doubles, 62 RBI, and 67 runs scored.
Could the Yankees reacquire their former prospect to complete their 2025 infield mix? Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter proposed the following hypothetical trade:
- Yankees receive: infielder Josh Smith
- Rangers receive: starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores, and cash
"In hindsight, the New York Yankees clearly made a mistake when they traded Josh Smith and Ezequiel Durán to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Joey Gallo at the 2021 trade deadline," Reuter wrote. "A do-over of sorts could now solve a glaring roster hole."
Smith could fill in at third base and allow Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move back to second. But if the Bombers felt comfortable with Chisholm at the hot corner, Smith could simply take Gleyber Torres' spot at the keystone. Smith isn't arbitration-eligible until 2026 and is under team control through 2028.
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