Will Smith.

You mean the idiot who slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars?

No, Will Smith, the baseball player.

You mean the great young catcher for the Dodgers?

No, Will Smith, the pitcher.

It must be frustrating to be Will Smith the pitcher. The third-most famous Will Smith. The Will Smith the Rangers just signed to bolster their bullpen.

The thirty-three-year-old lefty is a veteran of ten solid years in major league bullpens. With Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Houston. He’s been a set up man and he’s been a closer, picking up 37 saves for the Braves in 2021, and making the All-Star Team as a Giant in 2019.

Interestingly, the Braves traded Smith to Houston last year for Jake Odorizzi, who the Rangers traded for this offseason.

Smith is somewhat on a roll, having won a World Series ring two years in a row. With the Braves in 2021 and the Astros in 2022. In fact, he was masterful in that 2021 post-season, not allowing a single run in eleven appearances, with six saves. For all that success, the Braves signed Kenley Jansen to be their closer in 2022, and eventually traded Smith to Houston, who also had a closer.

The Rangers don’t have one of those. Maybe it will be Smith. He’s sure had success, if not respect, in that role.

*****

TODAY’S GAME:

Texas @ Colorado, 2:10