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Interesting article on Smoak's splits. It looks like this is something that goes back to his college days:
http://www.bbtia.com/the-clubhouse/2010/7/10/hindsights-vol-1-the-cliffl...
This is actually a pretty decent flaw... Smoak has never hit lefties at any level and his splits have gotten even more extreme as hes reached MLB. It suggests a VASTLY superior swing on the right side of the plate as opposed to the left side.
Smoak's biggest MLB comp was Mark Texiera for me, but this news limits his ceiing a bit. Texiera is someone who is equally good at both sides of the plate. Smoak has a VERY high% of being as good as Tex as a lefty, but his righty splits are so bad you almost wonder why he doesn't just hit solely as a lefty.
This news makes me prefer Montero, but Smoak still has an excellent chance at being a high 800s OPS 1B with a slick glove. Thats better than anything we've had since Olerud. Its just a matter of how competent he will become vs LH pitching.