The Detroit Tigers traded outfielder Trayce Thompson to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, according to sources, as Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts landed on the injured list with a cracked right rib.
Upon learning Betts will miss at least a couple weeks, the Dodgers began searching for a right-handed bat as a short-term replacement in the outfield. He suffered the injury in the first inning of last Wednesday’s game.
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In return, the Tigers received cash considerations.
Thompson, who was going to exercise an opt-out clause in his contract with the Tigers in a couple days, hit .299 with eight home runs, seven walks and 30 strikeouts in 25 games for Triple-A Toledo. The 31-year-old also played 16 games for Triple-A El Paso.
For both squads, he hit .305 with 17 homers and a 1.086 OPS in 41 games.
Before joining the Tigers, Thompson competed in six MLB games for the San Diego Padres and recorded one hit in 14 at-bats.
The Tigers were willing to part ways with Thompson so they could prioritize the development of Triple-A outfielders Derek Hill, Daz Cameron and Akil Baddoo.
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Thompson has 223 games of MLB experience — with a .205 batting average and a .280 on-base percentage — across six seasons for the Chicago White Sox (2015, 2018), Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-17), Oakland Athletics (2018), Chicago Cubs (2021) and Padres (2022).
He did not reach the big leagues with the Tigers.
The Tigers signed Thompson to a minor-league deal May 19 for organizational depth. He elected free agency May 14 after he was designated for assignment May 10 by the Padres.
Thompson is the brother of four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson.
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