Should the Guardians consider bringing in this former Red Sox slugger?

A potential option for the Cleveland Guardians to bring into the fold has just become available. The Boston Red Sox announced they have released veteran first baseman Dominic Smith. Boston originally designated Smith for assignment earlier this week to make room on their roster for Triston Casas.

Smith is now able to sign with any team, but should the Cleveland Guardians be interested in his services?

Overall, Smith is not much of a force at the plate, slashing just .247/.314/.405 lifetime with a career OPS+ just below average, sitting at 97. There have been flashes of promise during his time with the New York Mets, specifically during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In those 139 games, Smith compiled 31 doubles, 21 home runs, and 67 runs driven in to go with a slash line of .299/.366/.571 and a 150 OPS+. While he has largely struggled since then, perhaps there is a way for the Guardians to extract what little production remains in his offensive profile.

Cleveland could deploy the left-handed Smith against right-handed pitching in an attempt to provide a bit more offense. Smith has 16 doubles and five home runs against right-handers this season, to go with a .235/.325/.387 slash line. While the overall numbers may not seem all that intriguing from this perspective, his 121 weighted runs created plus since the All-Star Break and 130 over his last 150 at-bats against right-handed pitching (.267/.364/.466 slash line) could be the perfect addition to a lineup in need of some offensive help.

Would adding Smith be the solution to all of the offensive problems they are experiencing at the moment? No, but it couldn't hurt to see what he can provide. If the Guardians are deadset on not bringing Kyle Manzardo back to the big-league club, why not give Smith a shot? He would not require the same level of playing time as Manzardo, which can help preserve the positional flexibility the Guardians have preferred to use this season. The worst-case scenario is Cleveland gives Smith a shot, and he is not able to help, so they part ways anyway. It is truly a situation where it seems impossible for the Guardians to come out the loser, so they might as well give it a go.