Josh Smith becomes an essential part of the Rangers following brief time as a Yankees prospect

Yankees’ Trading History and Josh Smith’s Journey

The Yankees are known for leveraging their prospects, often trading them to enhance the team with major league-ready talent. Recently, their trading strategy has been increasingly effective, and it’s hard to pinpoint any prospects they’ve let go that have truly shone elsewhere and made them second-guess their choices.

During the 2021 trade deadline, the Yankees, led by Brian Cashman, acquired several players, including Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, while parting with twelve prospects in total.

Notably, one of those prospects, Josh Smith, returned earlier this week to face the Yankees. He’s a formidable player—capable of defending multiple positions—and last year he even secured a Silver Slugger award as a utility player. Clearly, he has something to offer to the Yankees right now.

Rangers manager Bruce Bossy commented before Wednesday’s game, “We’re not where we want to be, but we don’t want to think about where we’d be without him.”

At 23 back in 2021, Smith felt the competition around him and suspected he wouldn’t be in the Yankees’ plans long-term. He was a second-round pick from LSU in 2019 and had a brief stint in Staten Island. Like many prospects, his development was hampered by the pandemic in 2020.

In High A Hudson Valley in 2021, there was another promising shortstop, Anthony Volpe, who was just 20 years old at the time. Oswald Peraza, another sought-after infield prospect, was already 21. Smith excelled in low-A ball and kept impressing in Hudson Valley with an OPS of 1.018 over 28 games. However, he recognized the competition and the challenges ahead.

“Honestly, I thought I might get traded,” Smith reflected. “I loved my time with the Yankees, but… it felt like I wouldn’t advance quickly there.”

His intuition proved correct when he was dealt to the Rangers on July 29 as part of a trade that included Gallo and Rodriguez.

While trades can be tough for young players accustomed to one organization, Smith viewed it as a fresh beginning. “I was excited about the new opportunity,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time with the Yankees but didn’t see a quick path forward with them. It turned out great for me here.”

Since making his debut in 2022, Smith had a breakout year last season, achieving a .731 OPS across 149 games. This year, he’s even improved, boasting a .769 OPS and filling various roles on the field as needed, particularly in light of injuries to teammates like Corey Seager.

“He’s a versatile defender you can place anywhere,” Bossy praised.

Smith still keeps in touch with some Yankees players, often referencing Volpe as a favorite teammate. Had the Yankees made different choices four years ago, they could very well be sharing the left side of the infield together.