The Cubs signed a veteran cornerback Trayce Thompson on a minor league contract yesterday afternoon. Although the team has yet to make an official announcement, the signing of Wasserman’s client appears in the team’s activity log on MLB.com, and Thompson already suited up for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines last night, going 1-to-1. 4. with two runs scored.
Thompson, 33, was cut by the Mets earlier this month after spending 62 games with their Triple-A team in Syracuse. The former second baseman hit .228/.300/.500 in 253 plate appearances during his time with the Mets organization. Now he will return to the Cubs for the second time; Thompson was with the Cubs in 2021, ripping 21 homers in 88 games with Iowa and appearing in 15 major league games as a Cub.
Although he was never in the majors, Thompson accumulated more than four years of service spread over parts of seven MLB campaigns. In 369 games and 1058 plate appearances between the White Sox, Dodgers, A’s and Padres, Thompson owns a .212/.300/.411 batting line. He walked 10.9% of his at-bats but also struck out 32.7% of the time. He’s long had impressive raw power and earlier in his career boasted a lot of fastball, though Statcast rated him as average in that last season in 72 games split between the Dodgers and ChiSox.
Thompson gives the Cubs some depth at all three spots in the outfield. His ability to play anywhere in the outfield took on even more importance just hours after he signed with the Cubs, as Cody Bellinger exited last night’s game against the Orioles after being hit in the hand by a 97 mph heater from the Baltimore lefty Cionel Perez. It’s not clear yet whether there is enough of a fracture or swelling that Bellinger will need to stay on the 10-day injured list, but Bellinger noted after last night’s game that he had to leave because he couldn’t throw the ball.
Even if Bellinger is gone, the Cubs can go with an outside prospect Alexander Canary to take his place on the big league roster. Regardless of what the future holds, Thompson gives the Cubs an experienced depth option who has posted a .237/.307/.465 batting line over parts of seven Triple-A seasons and, apparently, has 16 long balls already in the books this year. is on his way to his fifth professional season of 20-plus homers.
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