Josh Smith, Texas Rangers
The defending World Series winners have spent excessively to build their championship roster, and for a team so hungry to win, they don't have a track record of creative but risky trades of their established talent.
This makes them very different from Seattle and Oakland, and even from the other huge markets in Houston and LA. It's hard to envision a future where Texas, if they happened to find themselves trailing in the playoff race, deals reliever rentals like David Robertson and Kirby Yates, for example, instead of sprinting to the finish line.
That said, there could be an opportunity for the Phillies to trade from their own surplus to grab a piece that isn't seeing a lot of playing time in Texas.
Left-handed infielder Josh Smith has been highly regarded for years and was a part of the Yankees' deal that sent Joey Gallo from Texas to the Bronx in 2021. That deal was a big win for Texas, though Smith hasn't quite established himself at the MLB level.
He slugged to an .861 OPS at Triple-A in 2022 before his promotion, but has only gotten 400 at-bats in the past two MLB seasons. He's had a few hot streaks that have flashed his high ceiling, and he contributed big in the postseason, but his OPS+ in The Show is just 67.
Josh Smith clobbers one to extend the lead for the Rangers! pic.twitter.com/4ZzyP9XQ3N
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 25, 2023
He can play all over, including third base, and with a strong glove he could be a great partial platoon partner for Bohm. He also has outfield experience, and could find his way to more playing time if he proves his bat.
The Rangers lack starting pitching depth. If the Phillies sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery in the coming weeks, or if they deal for another ace at the Trade Deadline this summer, they'll have the flexibility to consider giving up Taijuan Walker or Cristopher Sánchez.
Given that Mick Abel will probably be ready for a call-up this year and Andrew Painter is in the wings for 2025, and considering how the team is prioritizing a Zack Wheeler extension, this is certainly a place of strength for the Phils to deal from.