The Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the market for an upgrade at third base near the trade deadline. However, there is an unconventional solution right under their noses.
Max Muncy is hitting just .186 through 32 games this season. The Dodgers are trying to repeat as World Series champions and cannot afford to have a gaping hole at third base. However, FanSided's Stephen Parello suggested the team move Will Smith to third base and give Dalton Rushing a shot behind the plate.
Rushing is the team's top prospect and has been playing well at Triple-A. Smith has been blocking his path to becoming the team's catcher, but moving Smith to third base could change that.
"Coming up through the minor leagues, Smith spent some time working around the infield, getting reps at both second and his most-often-played position aside from catcher, third base," wrote Parello. "It's been a while, though. His last significant experience at the hot corner came in 2018, where he logged 43 games at the position across Double-A and Triple-A, but for a leader like Smith, the transition shouldn't come with too many growing pains."
Smith is slashing .318/.413/.494 this season. He would be a clear upgrade over Muncy at third base. Meanwhile, Rushing is hitting .306 with a .919 OPS in Triple-A. The Dodgers signed Smith to a 10-year, $140 million extension last year, and at the time, it seemed like it ended Rushing's chances to become the catcher of the future.
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However, making this unconventional move could be exactly what gets him behind the dish in Dodger Stadium. The only question is whether the Dodgers would make a bold move like this? Smith is a two-time All-Star, and if the team thinks a position change will hurt his production offensively, they likely would not risk it.
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