Dana Brown’s roster blunders could force the Astros into making a Cam Smith mistake
Smith looks like a star in the making, if Houston doesn’t mess it up first.
After trading away Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs and losing Alex Bregman to the Boston Red Sox in free agency, the Houston Astros entered spring training this year in desperate need of a spark. The AL’s preeminent dynasty seemed to be trending in the wrong direction, and with two stars out the door — and potentially another to follow, as Framber Valdez enters his final season of team control — things could get worse before they get better.
And then Cam Smith showed up. The primary return in the Tucker deal, the third baseman was a very well-regarded prospect, but his inexperience (only five games of experience above A-ball after being taken 14th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft) had fans tempering their short-term expectations. His play so far this spring, however, has taken those expectations into the stratosphere: Smith is currently slashing an eye-watering .409/.519/.773 with two homers in 10 games, looking every bit the part of a future star who can help lead Houston into a new era of contention.
He’s been so good, in fact, that the Astros are starting to plan for that new era to begin as soon as Opening Day. Isaac Paredes is occupying third base at the moment, but Houston has started giving Smith some time in the outfield, suggesting that they want to find a way to have him with the Major League club as soon as possible.
Which is understandable, on the surface: Smith sure seems like a future star, with a bat that will shine no matter where you put him on the diamond, and Houston is in desperate need of more outfield help if it wants to make another World Series run in 2025. The incumbent options don’t offer much inspiration, so why not call up the kid who looks ready right now?
