Former MLB General Manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic has sparked significant outrage among the Atlanta Braves faithful by proposing an “oddball” and “uninspiring” shortstop solution that fans claim “wouldn’t fix anything” and is not worthy of a contending club.
The controversial player Bowden suggested the Braves acquire via trade is Josh Smith, the utility man from the Texas Rangers.
The Problem Player: Josh Smith
Shortstop has been the Braves’ biggest positional problem over the last two seasons, and with star free agent Ha-Seong Kim likely departing, the team is desperate for a long-term solution. Bowden’s proposal positions Smith (the main character in the outrage) as an “under-the-radar name” the Braves should target if they fail to sign a top free agent.
- The Proposal: Trade for Rangers utility man Josh Smith to play shortstop full-time.
- Smith’s 2025 Performance: Smith slashed .251/.335/.366 with a .700 OPS in 144 games for the Rangers, playing mostly as a super-utility fielder.
- The Price Tag: Smith is projected to be inexpensive (around $3 million in his first year of arbitration) and would likely cost the Braves a couple of mid-tier prospects.
Why Fans Are Outraged: “Wouldn’t Fix Anything”
The Braves fanbase, already frustrated by years of instability at shortstop, has vehemently rejected the idea, primarily because Smith does not meet the necessary defensive or offensive standards for a championship contender.
| Fan Concern | Josh Smith’s 2025 Reality | Why It Doesn’t Work for Atlanta |
| Defense: | Finished with -5 Outs Above Average (OAA), ranking in the 11th percentile of MLB. | Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos consistently prioritizes elite defense at shortstop. Smith’s defense would be a major downgrade. |
| Offense: | .700 OPS and a low Slugging Percentage (.366) | Smith is not the power-hitting threat the Braves typically seek to surround their core players with. His “uninspiring” StatCast profile does not project high-end offensive upside. |
| Ceiling: | A high-floor, inexpensive utility player. | Braves fans demand a shortstop who moves the needle and provides legitimate championship-caliber production, not a “vanilla fallback option.” |
In short, while Smith is a valuable player for a team like the Rangers, the move would see the Braves sacrifice prospects for a player who, statistically, provides below-average defense at the most critical defensive position while offering minimal offensive firepower.
The consensus among fans is that rolling the dice on Josh Smith would be a disastrous, low-upside decision that would leave the team’s biggest weakness unsolved heading into the 2026 season.
Given the Braves’ need for a difference-maker, the trade market for a young shortstop is heating up. Would you like the latest buzz on the Braves’ potential pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Jordan Lawlar?
