MLB Players: The parallel careers of Justin Smoak and Travis Shaw
Two MLB players have seen their own highs and lows in their careers. But the coincidences in those highs and lows connect them more than their offseason swap.
It was one of the more exciting offseasons in recent years. With MLB players like Gerrit Cole to the New York Yankees, Anthony Rendon to the Los Angeles Angels, and Mookie Betts in a blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There were a lot of good under-the-radar moves too with the White Sox signing Dallas Keuchel, the Phillies taking a one-year chance on Didi Gregorious and the Rays making trades for almost all the Padres’ farm system it seems.
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When the season does eventually arrive, each team and their new rosters will be ready to compete for the ultimate title of World Champs.
Each of those teams also would have made moves that maybe don’t catch as much attention as they should. That is where the focus turns to the bats of Justin Smoak and Travis Shaw.
Two guys who to my knowledge don’t have much in common prior to the start of their MLB careers. But when both players reached the ultimate goal, both had shown positive signs for a fruitful career, truly broke out in their later 20’s, but now, after a very down season, are trying to break out after essentially trading places this offseason.
MLB Players: Trading Places
Smoak and Shaw Start
Smoak was first to reach the majors only because he has nearly three years on Shaw.
Smoak was first drafted in 2005 out of his South Carolina high school by the Athletics but opted to attend the University of South Carolina, and three years later was the number 11 overall pick by the Texas Rangers.
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His time in the minors was short as he made it to the Rangers’ squad in 2010 but was traded mid-season to the Mariners as part of the deal that netted Texas Cliff Lee.
In four complete seasons in Seattle, he was a serviceable power hitter with ok defense at first base but certainly not up to the level of what his draft status was.
During Smoak’s 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox drafted Shaw in the 9th round out of Kent State University. This was their second attempt to draft Shaw as they tried to draft him out of high school in 2008; the same year Smoak was drafted and signed.
Shaw much longer time to develop as he didn’t reach the majors until 2015. He didn’t get every start either as he was behind Boston’s big free-agent acquisitions of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.
So both Smoak and Shaw started middle-of-the-road, but they both put together their best seasons to date, coincidentally, the same season. And it wasn’t with the Mariners or the Red Sox.
MLB Players: Trading Places
Smoak and Shaw Shine
In 2015, Smoak was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays and faced a couple more seasons of decent power and decent defense at first.
In 2017, Shaw was traded to the Brewers (this is easily one of the worst trades Boston has ever made) as part of a deal that got the Red Sox Tyler Thornburg. This was also a byproduct of the Red Sox facing a log jam with Sandoval and Ramirez.
But man, 2017 quickly made the Red Sox regret that decision, and Smoak by far had his best season period.
Smoak played in all but four games in 2017 and reached career bests in every significant offensive category. 38 home runs, 90 RBI, a .270/.355/.529 slash line and most importantly, his first all-star game appearance.
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He wasn’t just in the game either. He received the most votes of AL first basemen and started the game in Miami for the AL. It is to date his only all-star appearance and he was the first Blue Jay to start at first base since Carlos Delgado did it in 2003.
Shaw wasn’t an all-star like Smoak but he certainly played like one. He also posted career bests in every offensive category: 31 homers, 101 RBI and a .273/.349/.513 slash line.
Shaw and Smoak similarly peaked during the exact same season with practically identical numbers on new teams when given the opportunity to embrace a starting role. Which makes what happened in 2019 truly upsetting.
MLB Players: Trading Places
Smoak and Shaw Swap
While both players put together similar campaigns in 2018, they completely collapsed in 2019 and were felled by injuries.
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This resulted in miserable stat lines and performances in their final seasons under contract. Milwaukee lost in the wild card game to the eventual World Champs in DC and the Blue Jays floundered again in a top-heavy division but easily have the most exciting young core set to play this season.
So both teams decided it was time to move on. The irony is however that Smoak went to Shaw’s former suitor and Shaw to Smoak’s. They were signed to their respective new clubs ten days apart of each other last December.
Shaw is likely to see some starts at first base depending on how they want to treat young Vlad Guerrero Jr. Smoak is fighting for a starting job with Ryan Braun possibly moving to first with the addition of Avisail Garcia to the outfield as well as Brock Holt and Eric Sogard showing infield versatility.
So nothing is granted to these two who clearly have peaked, but now have an opportunity to keep their careers alive – Smoak will be 33 this season, and Shaw will be 30.
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It isn’t clear how each will try to self revive their bats but the parallel lines guiding Smoak and Shaw service as a curious tale of two players who have a lot in common in their baseball careers.