THAT JOSH SMITH RUMOR IS BACK AND MAKES PERFECT SENSE

The Yankees’ infield rumors this winter have been like a game of Whac-A-Mole—just when you think one name sticks, another pops up. But here we are, circling back to a name we tossed around on Bleeding Yankee Blue not too long ago: Josh Smith of the Texas Rangers.

FanSided’s Jacob Mountz recently floated the idea that instead of splurging on Nolan Arenado, the Yankees might just take a more practical route and trade for Smith. But will they actually pull the trigger?

"One unexplored option belongs to the Texas Rangers," Mountz wrote. "Utility infielder/outfielder Josh Smith served as the Rangers' third baseman last season, filling in for the injured Josh Jung. Set to make $800,000 this season before becoming arbitration-eligible, he is easily affordable to any interested team."

Smith, a 27-year-old lefty bat, came out swinging last season, hitting .293 with 10 home runs in the first half. Sure, a mid-season injury cooled him off, but he still snagged a Silver Slugger, wrapping up the season with a respectable .258 and 13 homers in 523 at-bats.

This isn’t our first rodeo with floating Smith. Back on February 1st (HERE) we proposed a trade on BYB that would send Smith to the Bronx and finally cut ties with Marcus Stroman. At the time, we wrote:

"For the Yankees, this would finally put an end to the Stroman saga while helping to patch up their infield depth, an area of concern heading into spring training. As for the Rangers, it’s not the worst idea—they're heavily relying on Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle, two talented arms who combined for just 23.1 innings last season due to injuries. Adding Stroman as an insurance policy, especially if the Yankees eat a chunk of his salary, could be a decent low-risk move."

Let’s face it: if the Yankees are hunting for talent that won’t break the bank, Smith might be their guy. He’s the anti-Arenado—cheap, controllable, and full of potential. The question is, will the Yankees make a move, or is this just another episode of "Rumor Mill: Bronx Edition"?

Stay tuned, folks. You know how these plot twists go.

YANKS CAN'T UNLOAD STROMAN, BUT THE TRADE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM

The Yankees are stuck in a game of hot potato with Marcus Stroman, except no one seems willing to catch. According to The New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the trade market for Stroman is practically nonexistent, forcing the Yankees into a tough spot. If they want to move him, they may have to swallow a significant chunk of his contract just to make it happen—potentially up to $13 million.

It’s honestly kind of sad. Stroman isn’t a bad pitcher, but baseball is a brutal business. One rough season, and suddenly, you're the guy no team wants to take a chance on. The Yankees have been shopping him since early January but given his $18 million salary for this season and a player option for the same amount in 2026 if he reaches 140 innings, teams just aren’t lining up at the door. Right now, he’s the odd man out in the Yankees’ rotation, and if he stays in the Bronx, his best-case scenario might be as a long reliever. That’s a steep fall for a guy who was once an All-Star.

So, what’s the best way out of this mess? Bleacher Report suggests a deal with the Texas Rangers could be the most logical solution. The proposal?

To Texas: SP Marcus Stroman, C/1B Rafael Flores, cash.

To New York: IF Josh Smith.

For the Yankees, this would finally put an end to the Stroman saga while helping to patch up their infield depth, an area of concern heading into spring training. As for the Rangers, it’s not the worst idea—they're heavily relying on Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle, two talented arms who combined for just 23.1 innings last season due to injuries. Adding Stroman as an insurance policy, especially if the Yankees eat a chunk of his salary, could be a decent low risk move.

The real question is whether this trade—or any trade—actually happens. At this point, unless a team gets desperate for a fifth starter, the Yankees might just have to bite the bullet and keep Stroman around. It's wild to think that a pitcher who once had so much value is suddenly a tough sell, but that's the reality of baseball. One bad season can kill a career, and right now, Stroman is dangerously close to becoming the guy no one wants.