The Dodgers added some outfield depth Monday, announcing agreement with the Tigers on a deal that sends Trayce Thompson to Los Angeles in exchange for cash considerations. It’ll be the second stint in L.A. for the 31-year-old.
Thompson had not been on the Detroit 40-man roster, having signed a minor league contract a month ago. He won’t immediately occupy a 40-man spot with Los Angeles either, although it seems likely the Dodgers will add him to the big league club within the next few days. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported this morning that L.A. was on the hunt for a right-handed hitting outfielder in the wake of Mookie Betts’ trip to the injured list. Thompson, it seems, will get the first crack in that role.
A former second-round pick of the White Sox, Thompson has appeared in parts of six big league seasons. That included a 2016-17 run in Dodger blue, as the club landed him from Chicago in a three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier from Cincinnati to the Sox. Thompson appeared in 107 games with Los Angeles over those two seasons, the biggest body of work he’s compiled with any of the five MLB clubs for which he’s suited up.
That includes a six-game stint with the division-rival Padres this season. Thompson didn’t produce during that cup of coffee in San Diego, but he’s absolutely mashed at the minors’ top level in 2022. Between San Diego’s and Detroit’s highest affiliates, he’s compiled a .305/.365/.721 line and blasted 17 home runs in 41 games. Thompson has struck out in 28.2% of his Triple-A plate appearances, but his massive impact from a power perspective was enough to convince the Dodgers front office to bring him back.
Swing-and-miss concerns have been a similar problem for Thompson at the major league level. He’s punched out in 28.6% of his 640 career plate appearances en route to a .205/.280/.397 line. He’s popped 26 homers and swiped 11 bases, but the subpar on-base numbers have relegated him more towards journeyman status in recent years. Thompson has unsurprisingly been better when holding the platoon advantage than against same-handed arms, but his .218/.283/.445 line against southpaws is still a bit below-average.
Thompson will be something of a stopgap option while Betts recovers, an unsurprising course of action for the organization to take. Rosenthal wrote this morning the team wasn’t looking to surrender notable young talent in any deal, reasoning they could take a bigger swing at an impact addition closer to the trade deadline if Betts misses an extended amount of time.
Juan Toribio of MLB.com first reported the Dodgers were nearing agreement on a deal to land Thompson. Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times confirmed there was a deal in place, while Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic first reported the Tigers would receive cash in return.
Why?
Betts cracked rib, just a short term replacement
I think he means why trade for a 31 year old player with a career 83 ops+ when there are easily better options? Clint Frazier was just DFA’d. He’d be a better option.
I like the Clint Frazier idea too
If he was so good how come he lost the right field job to Heyward, the worst player in the past 30 years on the worst team in the past 25 years ? Heyward is having superstar season! Number 1 batter on west side! .198 batting average mean 198 hits! 1 home run because once the pitcher sees one they go home and run!
I have Andrew Friedman’s cell if you want to give him a call.
I’ll call Friedman. What’s the number? 867-5309?
Ask for Jenny.
Jenny Jenny who can I turn to?
Jenny, Jenny, Jenny
Won’t you come along with me?
Jenny, Jenny, Whooo! Jenny, Jenny ….
Jenny could hit better than Trayce.
Too late. Frazier accepted his assignment to AAA and remains with the Cubs.
The Dodgers or any team didn’t claim Fraizer due to the fact that if they did, they would have to pay him the remainder of his 1.5 mil contract.
Yes peanuts for the Dodgers, but if you going to take a chance take a chance with the aaaa player making minimum wage having a good season in the minors.
Didn’t Frazier accept assignment before Betts was injured?
He did, but also the above reason is why no team, even the tigers, put in a claim for him.
He’s not worth the money
He accepted his assignment to go to triple A. Once he.gets going there, he needs to go up to the cubs as a 4th outfielder.
I see no indication that Frazier is a better option than anyone or anything. Can’t win games based on passed reputation, unfulfilled potential. He’s just not very good which is why no one is rushing to pick him up.
Frazier cleared waivers, is back in triple A with Cubs.
They know him
I’m sure they know a lot of people. Doesn’t make them a productive player. Puig’s available.
No, Puig isn’t. He’s playing in Korea right now.
@DarkSide830 Hey, a question. Should I mention the “Why platoon? Get Santander” thread from a previous story OR quit GM amateur hour logic and maybe focus on “keeping my day job?”
Underachieving team acquires an underachieving player. What’s not to like?
My thoughts exactly
Why exactly. They should pull up one of the young prospects to look at.
No way trying to knock you or the dodgers or Thompson for that matter. But he’s literally like the cheapest option, can cut bait if it doesn’t work without having to move a prospect onto the 40-man if that’s the case.
They should still go after Laureano. He’s batting 343/439/543 versus lefties this year. Plus entering his prime years. Pay the price and get him.
Thompson may have learned to hit MLB pitching; he is tearing up AAA. Also, they got him from a weak GM for cash.
Sounds like a Los Karen already
The only funny thing about this is you thinking its funny, lol.
Agreed. Super played out and never funny in the first place. I’m sure that opinion will draw another Karen comparison, stand by
The guys a tool. Never anything smart to say
Gross, McKinstry and Jake Lamb should demand a trade behind closed doors
Both should be on a MLB roster somewhere today but being LH is holding them back. Pillar woulda been perfect errrr
McKinstry and Lamb are AAAA players. No PCL action’s going to change that.
McKinstry is ON the dodgers right now and they need an OUTFIELDER. Which Jake lamb very much isn’t. Only Outman is outfield depth on 40 man and he’s only in AA right now, likely not ready.
despite raking like hell this season in the minors, I’m not convinced TT is all that different than he ever was, but he basically costs nothing, for a team needing OF depth for a few weeks. Not sure why everyone is questioning this?
I mean so is Trace Thompson, he’s proven that for like 6 years now.
McKinstry is on the MLB roster. Lamb has played almost entirely first base.
He might be hitting in Triple-A, but it’s not like the Dodgers don’t have better options there in the bigs. Even if he was a righty, they likely wouldn’t bring him up, because he’s no better outfielder than Alvarez.
I’m aware where Mckinstry is right now but he was passed up for a Wheaties box in Alvarez last time and is only here on a Mookie inj.
Pretty disrespectful for Zach who’s put in years of service for LAD …If Alvarez is holding him down it’s best for his career to change zip codes at this point –
The new rule that kicks in gets TT here
Crazy talk Darkside – Both would easily fit into the Phillies 26 man roster and about 20+ other teams
Alvarez is also left-handed. Which makes your argument about that being the issue that is keeping them off the MLB team irrelevant. McKinstry was passed because the Dodgers thought Alvarez was better. If you disagree, then say so outright, and show us the stats to back it up.
2 separate parts here-
Alvarez was chosen over McKinstry last week straight up,
I promise you Zach noted that and that was probably the last straw. He worked his tail off for that {limited} opportunity
Let’s be honest Alvarez’s side car ice skating past was probably the reason….both can play everywhere (yet nowhere above avg) Zach’s put in years for this org, rode the shuttle, had some key moments too boot. Alvarez getting chosen over him had to hurt
Lamb would be here if RH today, his handiness is keeping him down. He’d make a ton of rosters and possibly be given a good amount of abs in other orgs right now. 3b league wide is a sieve
Thompson is up because he’s right handed, which means he can platoon with McKinstry, Bellinger, or Alvarez. He’s also a natural outfielder, meaning he can be a defensive replacement for Alvarez, who is not. It’s admittedly a narrow and short term role.
All of their OFs at AAA are either LH, or on the restricted list aside from Stefan Romero. So I guess the question is do you believe Thompson is better than a 33 year old journeyman who has worse stats this season in AAA, hasn’t played in MLB since 2015 and has spent most of the intervening years in Japan. I think Thompson is, and I think he’s probably a better option than anything else they have right now for that narrow role.
In 2016 when Trayce hit those 13 home runs I thought wow this guy is going to be awesome but he got injured and didn’t really take off again.
It was his pinnacle, and you were able to witness it. His brother just won NBA championship maybe that will incentivize him
Well if he wasn’t incentivized by his brothers 3 prior championships…
This team is grasping at straws already…
Ah, neon is back. Isn’t that swell.
Never left, sweetie. Remember how I pointed out months ago that your team was grossly overrated?
@neon
Do you mean the team that’s still in 1st place in the division?
Meh. Remember in 2003 when the Dodgers picked up 44 year old Rickey Henderson from the Independent League?
I guess he wasn’t that bad in only 84 plate appearances. 3-0 in stolen bases.
Best of luck, I know he’s not gonna stick but Jose Bautista taught me to never give up on these kind of mashers.
Trayce was on the dodgers once before. Didn’t do much. I don’t expect him to do much this time around.
Left the Tigers, without leaving a Trayce
… he’ll be here all week ladies and gentlemen!
Does Friedman watch the same game as us? IMO the Dodgers have one of the weakest benches around. The days of KiKi and Joc are over.
Why not call Boston on Hernandez?
Because he’s on the IL and hasn’t hit a lick this season?
Rios is hurt. The bench is a helluva lot better with him. Alberto is pretty good V lefties. After those two, pretty weak.
Joc Pederson was never a bench player for the Dodgers. Always a starting outfielder.
Was Scott Van Slyke not available?
Opening day payroll of 263.5 million and this is what they’re left with after one OF injury?
It’s not like this was a surprise to anyone who followed the Dodgers closely. OF depth was their problem in 2021, and then they traded McKinney, Reks, and Pollock. Once Pillar and Betts got hurt, they didn’t have a chance.
Three – Betts, Rios, and Pillar
Rios is not an OF option
Omg. What the,.”’,. Are we trying to fill the whole lineup with guys that can’t hit? Well i guess he fits in with the other half of the lineup hitting 200 or below. What a joke. Come on Friedman your going backwards.
Front office needs to come to the realization that bellinger is who he is. Stop thinking he’s that 1st year player because he is not. Keep waiting for him to breakout well let me tell you something he’s been this way for the last 3 years so turn the page. Muncy and Justin turner got too close and caught the bellinger itis. MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES. Go get someone and sit these guys. We keep losing games because they can’t hit. How long does this go on????
Suggest some changes, please.
Stop being a Karen. Talk to me when your team loses at least 10 in a row. The Dodgers *still* have the 2nd best record in the NL.
Stop kellin
I’m not sure what realization you mean. Over the past three years he’s a roughly average hitter and he’s basically playing CF exclusively now. They’re doing this partially because they don’t think his bat warrants 1B/LF. The big tell on that is that they went and signed Freddie Freeman, who you absolutely do not get if you think Bellinger can hit well enough to play there. They also traded Pollock, basically because they needed CF to be clear for Bellinger, because his bat doesn’t play in the corners.
Their outfield depth is shot because they’ve watched a lot of depth leave in recent years and decided to try their hands at finding another Justin Turner or Max Muncy on the scrap heap instead of paying a ton to keep Kike Hernandez or Pollock in platoon/bench roles.
Hmm, I was going to suggest the Twins garlic
Well, the Dodgers did trade him away. The pitcher they got in the deal (Tyler Gilbert) was claimed in the minor league rule five draft by the division rival D-Backs and threw a no hitter in his first career start. Meanwhile, the Dodgers were looking for both OF and SP depth last year (and this year). They probably want one of them back.
They have Stefen Romero they can test out in RF? he is doing alright in AAA .270ish
Trayce has been doing better. The Dodgers were able to get him, so they did. Romero is also a really bad fielder.
I’ll make a pretty safe wager that when all is said and done in this go round for Thompson, he’ll have hit .149 with a 30% K rate by the time he’s DFAd.
they may pull the mariners/giants thing here where they trade for a guy for cash and then trade him back for cash in order to rent a guy
Among other things – the team seems to lack a leader. Didn’t Roberts say the other day that many of the players have their own agendas or something like that?
We need a Cruz or Solar in the middle of the lineup and a defensive infielder and outfielder for close late games.
Sometimes Muncy and Lux look they are playing without gloves
I believe Dave Roberts is the gentleman designated to be the leader.
Go look at someone like benitendi and RP barlow from KC. Ya i know benitendi isn’t a savior but he gets on base and wouldn’t cost a lot. Barlow is decent out of the pen and since our pen allows runs every single game he couldn’t be any worse.
first of all the dodgers were looking for a RH bat. benintendi is a LH bat
secondly the royals aren’t going to let him go for nothing esp when there will be other teams looking for a LH bat w good defense to balance out their lines ups.
define ‘not cost a lot’. i’m curious to know how you feel KC values him
What he means is you need to accept my team’s trash/spare parts your valuable player.
LA fans are delusional. “We are entitled to your star player; in return you get peanuts.”
You sound delusional. Benintendi isn’t a star player and he’s hitting free agency after this season.
No different than Yankee and Boston fans doing the same thing though. And then when they give up a marginal prospect (who they called a future star before the trade) they claim they stole the established player. It is quite comical.
Those two might cost LA an Amaya type IMO when combined. A 10-20 for just Benny
I have to admit, I did not know he was playing for Toledo. .305 batting average and 17 homers so far in 2022. Seems like a good pickup for LA. He’s blocked in Detroit and cheap for LA.
Yes, the Tigers OF has been so productive this year. Believe they are 30 out of 30 offensively. Absolutely blocked.
Hes for sure blocked. How would playing a veteran with no future upside help that team’s future? Any chance the Dodgers want to take Grossman off the tigers hands too?
Yes, a team averaging 2.7 runs per game with a very light hitting outfield has no room for a power hitter. Brilliant take.
Oh, he’s blocked. Consider Riley Greene, Austin Meadows, and Victor Reyes, all of whom will not be replaced unless they are injured or have some unforseen and extended power drought.
Then, consider Harold Castro who is the team’s best hitter, and Eric Haase, both who fill in out in the outfield to get them their ABs.
And then, you still have Grossman (who they still keep playing despite his 2-something average) and Daz Cameronn, who did a great job filling in for Meadows.
So,yes. He’s blocked.
Tigers once gave a second chance to JD Martinez, out of desperation, and that worked out. Maybe TT found his way late also. Guess we will let the Dodgers find out.
Dude. You are way overconfident in your opinions. The Tigers have a lot of outfielders and all of them (except Reyes) have been awful. When you are averaging 2.7 runs a game in late June you should not be blocked by anyone – especially when you’re putting up great numbers in the minors. We also have Carpenter who is hitting 310 with 21hrs, but our GM is too slow to make a bold move that might help the offense, and just sticks with conventional and conservative having too much loyalty to guys who are not producing.
He’s good enough for the Dodgers, but not the Tigers? Do you not see the irony there? Wait, is your name Al?
Also, Harold has played OF once, Hasse played few time early in the season. You also didn’t even know that Thompson was at Toledo. Totally clueless!
I agree that the offensive production has been atrocious. But, again, you have to consider those 3 names I mentioned first. They aren’t going anywhere. I didn’t even mention Willi Castro, who has come on pretty strong as of late. Plus, the Tigers don’t need another swing and miss guy. They’ve got plenty.
But, I do wish Avilla would start cutting/benching those players who have been mired in slumps. But, what do I know? Baez is hitting of late, Tork has been doing much better, even Grossman had a day recently.
How many clean innings does Kimbrel have? I always feel him and Hudson walk too many batters at inappropriate times. Thank goodness for Urias saving Jansen in 2020 or we would still be waiting
I never in my life thought we’d get a closer that made me pine for those good old Kenley heart attack days.
I believe 3 clean innings, if I’m remembering the Ben Maller show from the other night correctly.
Wow someone called this in an earlier thread. Amazing.
That’s because it’s been speculated since mookie went down. No one had a glass ball
Or even two?
Surprised there is no mention of big brother Klay, who just won another NBA title btw! 😉
Because this is MLB and no one gives a crap
The best team of all time?
Definitely one of the funnest to watch!
Draining 3’s like no other…
I was actually scrolling through comments to see if anyone mentioned this. Winner! : )
Btw to the comment below; I “give a crap” Siblings who succeed in other professional sports, yet alone HOF.. If he does half what Klay did… He’d be MLB HOF.
Respect to Klay and good luck to Trayce.
I bet the Dodgers’ AAA outfielders are feeling real good about themselves now!
Get DRURY from the Reds. He
can also be an upgrade for Lux or Muncy if he doesnt find his swing.
Drury an upgrade for lux?? Hahahahahahahahahahaha
The Dodgers should have tried for Miguel Andujar from the Yankees.
Good call, Jim. I actually was going to post this as well. Based on the posts above from the LAD fans, it appears that they need a RH-hitting OFer. Miggy is an adept OFer now & showed some renewed promise at the plate. He also has demonstrated some pop at times.
He appears to be a much better option than many existing players and still has an option for when Mookie returns.
Bad call! The yanks like the depth he provides and is going to cost a lot more than cash.
Greenberg: I agree with you, however I was looking at this from the perspective of the LAD’s needs & what their fans are writing they’re looking for in a player. Plus, they Yanks may consider moving him if they could find a LH comparable.
Based on the other suggestions, I think he fits the mold for their consideration. Not that they would pay whatever cost it would be, or that the Yankees would let him go, given the current role he provides. But, he did request a trade, he’s RH, & he’s a capable OFer with an option still for this season. Seems to fit, overall, imo. I could be wrong.
Is there some reason folks keep bringing up the guy who is batting .286? Gavin Lux is on the cusp of being a top rate big leaguer. Muncy is obviously still recovering from a major injury. I will take those two over anyone who other clubs would make available.
I will laugh when the guy gets hot for the Dodgers while the Tigers continue their chase for the worst offense in baseball since WW2. Our GM is a real gem.
Every GM has his faults. Avila has to continue showing faith in his plan. Its the direction the team wants to go in. Failure would mean his job. If the White Sox can blame their status on injury, Detroit has that same fallback and then some. 3/4 of their pitching has been or are on the IL. Greene, Grossman, Reyes, Meadows and Candelario have spent time on the IL, all expected to start or platoon. Schoop and Baez have been abissmal with the bat, compared to their norms. I would love to see this team healthy. And whoever decided that Torkelson needed to hit more grounders should be fired.
Start giving him reps at LF/RF now.
That’s what teams do with a top 100 prospect blocked and a need for his bat. If Turner, Muncy, and Bellinger were having better years they wouldn’t need more hitting. Hanser has struggled with the bat and Barnes has gone cold. Using Barnes and Smith as C/DH might be their best bet for now.
What about Lorenzo Cain? He’d be a good fit maybe change of scenery would help. He’s no longer with Milwaukee
Has he cleared waivers? Otherwise Dodgers are paying balance of $9 million for 2022
I know some are saying there were better options but just remember, Al Avila made this trade. The chances of Al Avila making a bad trade are very good.
Perhaps, but of all Avila’s horrible trades, this one might be the least bad – signing a waived free agent and flipping him for cash.
If he wasn’t good enough to make the team in SD with all the OF problems they have had and he wasn’t good enough to make the Tigers squad, what are the Dodgers thinking?
Typically they don’t take hand me downs from the Padres.
He’ll be placed on the waiver wire in a month….
If Mookie is back by then.
Thompson had his chance to show the doubters tonight… but struck out on three pitches. Oh well.
The Tigers have Akil Baddoo, Derek Hill and Daz Cameron in AAA while Kerry Carpenter will soon need to move up from AA. I don’t see how the Tigers are going to miss 31 year old Trayce Thompson.
The situation was similar at Catcher. The Tigers traded away Ryan Lavarnway due to the acquisition of Ali Sanchez from the Cardinals. There’s no room at the Inn.
put a nice swing on an oppo double today and played some solid D
and followed that w a deep drive today. any offense is appreciated. never know.