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Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing z.pressnell@newsweek.com.
Zach Pressnell
Contributing Sports Writer
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MLB’s season is officially underway and we’ve already seen some injuries begin to destroy teams. With that in mind, teams need to use the free agency market to add players as the season goes on.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently listed pitcher Will Smith as one of the more intriguing free agents left on the market. Miller linked the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Athletics as potential landing spots for the lefty.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JULY 10: Will Smith #31 of the Kansas City Royals delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning during game one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium…
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
“Nevertheless, teams with Smith on their roster have fared preposterously well over the past four years,” Miller wrote. “He won three straight World Series with Atlanta, Houston, and Texas and was present for Kansas City’s improbable transformation from a 106-loss mess directly into a playoff team. His World Series magic couldn’t get the Royals over the hump in October, but that was the clearest example yet of the type of roster talisman Smith has been.
“Even if you don’t believe there’s anything to that mojo, plenty of teams could use a veteran southpaw reliever with more than 100 saves in his career. Despite his struggles last season, it’s surprising Smith hasn’t been able to find work after he saved 22 games with a 3.36 FIP for the Rangers in 2023.”
Smith has been a very consistent pitcher for the entirety of his career. Last season with the Kansas City Royals was the first time that he seemed to be a bit of a negative player out of the bullpen.
The Cubs, Rangers, and Athletics are three contending teams who could use a bargain bin reliever like Smith. None of these teams are the big spenders like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. One of these teams could use a player like Smith in an attempt to compete with the Yankees and Dodgers.
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