SATURDAY: Thompson has officially joined the 25-man roster, with the A’s announcing that righty Daniel Gossett has been optioned to Triple-A to make room.
THURSDAY: The Athletics have claimed outfielder Trayce Thompson off waivers from the Yankees, per a club announcement. Thompson had only recently joined the New York organization after being claimed from the Dodgers.
Oakland has bumped righty Paul Blackburn to the 60-day DL to open a roster spot. Because he is out of options, Thompson will need to join the active roster, unless the A’s decide to try to squeeze him through waivers — as the Yanks just did, unsuccessfully.
Thompson, 27, could fulfill a reserve outfielder role for an Oakland organization that is currently sporting a three-man bench. He struggled quite a bit in 2017, of course, and followed that up with a miserable stint in the Cactus League. But Thompson was an effective player in the 2016 campaign, when he turned in 262 plate appearances of .225/302/.436 hitting with good glovework and top-of-the-line baserunning.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
There we go a team he can actually stick with. The A’s were one of the two I thought he’d have an opportunity with. Wishing Trayce good luck.
lowtalker1
Makes sense
Like I said last week
He will time to watch his brother
saintchristafa
Does any player really “stick” with the A’s? Let’s be honest here
sfgiantkev1
You know why right? Because they don’t have a stadium worth a damn.
If Oakland would do the right thing, and give the A’s something they could work with, they would avoid losing the A’s like they almost did to San Jose.
It’s not Beane’s fault. He’s just trying to keep the payroll down. And if you look around the Leagues there is a lot of turnover going on. Not just with the A’s.
I think Miami is number 1 with this problem. And again were they winning? No they weren’t. Miami did the right thing. You can’t tell a team they can’t dump payroll. It’s their money.
LumberJerk9Billion
But Miami got a new stadium. How is that the answer for the A’s then.
saintchristafa
The stadium is a major part of their issue. But let’s look at the moves they’ve made, minus the stadium. Trading controllable players for more less heralded controllable players. Why the Ryon Healy trade? What’s going on in Oakland?
But I do agree. The stadium’s location is also pretty bad.
CCCTL
> Why the Ryon Healy trade?
I dunno, why *would* you trade a defensively limited hitter for a multi-inning relief pitcher when you have plenty of infielders who can hit and will field better, but also have needs in the bullpen?
/S
Ryon Healy was traded because he wasn’t that great and Matt Olson was, and will continue to be, better than Healy. Getting relief help was gravy. Necessary gravy, but gravy.
Solaris601
Have the A’s been in the Coliseum since they moved from KC?
jordanrulestheworld
Why does the city of Oakland and it’s taxpayers have to give the A’s something to work with? Why do we have to pay for a billionaires stadium?
CCCTL
Yet another person who complains about billionaires asking for taxpayer handouts …
… before even bothering to look into the situation and finding out that the A’s are committed to self-financing their new ballpark (because they know Oakland has no money to give them even if they wanted to).
greatdaysport
Oakland will never make it happen. Horrible city, on the downside and broke.
arc89
My guess is you watch news from the 60s. Oakland has gone high tech with a bunch of hipsters. the ghetto part is almost gone. cost of a 2 bedroom house is now about 1/2 million if you are lucky to find one for sale. Its on the upside and has recovered from the terrible mayors of the past.
greatdaysport
Nope. I just drive down Seminary rd on the way to the stadium when I’m up there.
San Jose is best for this team or leave the state.
jbigz12
The ryon Healy trade was nothing but a win for Oakland. Healy’s skills are the cheapest thing to replace on the open market at this point too. You could sign Adam Lind today and he could offer you the same value. They have no need for Ryon Healy.
arc89
Now that is funny San Jose has some very bad areas I should know since I service some of them. Seminary is about the worse part of Oakland now and under the freeway by Emeryville. jack london used to be now its been built up. Fruitvalee is becoming hipster part of town. If you want to see the bad parts of the bay area go to Pittsburgh.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Just watch yourself when you get gas at the a.m./p.m. at the Hagenberger exit by the stadium. That and cover your kids eyes and tell them to stay in the car.
skip 2
This is solely Mr. Fisher fault don’t blame the stadium they have won there before that’s not the issue!! They need a new owner! That’s why in another year or two they are completely taking away there revenue sharing money because I believe they weren’t using it all or right.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
Well stick as in the simple sense of having the ability to sink or swim this year. Not one in which he rots on the bench and continues to waiver on a team with no clear path to even sparing playing time.
tyler-
So he can be closer to his brother…?
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Ya, Mychel does his laundry and washes his car. That’s the reason.
MB923
Thank you Trayce for all you’ve done. Looking forward to your Yankeeography
wiggysf
Great for him. His brother plays next door.
pustule bosey
yeah I was hoping he would come over here to the bay area for that reason
CubsRule08
Exactly. Brothers reunited next door lol
Solaris601
The ink hadn’t even dried on the Yankees’ waiver claim of Thompson, and now this. What happened?
Brixton
Yankees tried to get him through waivers and stash him. Didnt work
elcarim_23
I hope he didn’t fly to N.Y just to fly back to Cali haha (I’m sure they let him know the deal beforehand but funny to think about)
Deke
Yeah that would suck. The guy might have been running around trying to figure out accommodation maybe move family. Only to find out now he’s gotta go to CA. Unless maybe NY told him to hold off while they tried to sneak him through waivers.
Nevertheless I think it’s cool he’ll be near his brother now. Hope he works out for OAK.
GareBear
His family might not travel with him. Most players don’t uproot their families unless they have some contractual security
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
They tried to slip him to AAA so they put him back on waivers and he was claimed.
walls17
Cash fail!
srechter
Very diminutive viewpoint. Yanks lost nothing. They tried to pick a guy up and run him through waivers like a lottery ticket. Like most lotteries, they didn’t win. No net loss for the team whatsoever, just a confused player not knowing what his future holds.
MB923
He was being sarcastic (I hope)
walls17
obviously, people have no sense of humor nowadays
srechter
Ah, darn. Ya see, I’m used to humor being humorous. That was my mistake. Sorry all.
walls17
Obviously a joke. It’s a bit of a running joke in yankees circles. We worship Cashman
oaksbossko
Nice claim for depth.
snoozy
So Jason was right and Thompson did not have an option left?
juanpaolo
If he would have an option left he was still be a Dodger
hopper15
That’s pretty cool for him and Klay.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Why?
Oh that’s right, all Brothers adore each other and there’s no sibling rivalry whatsoever.
Forgot.
hopper15
You need to chill out. They play two different sports so I’m not sure what would be the point of a sibling rivalry.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Nice job up vote your own post.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Let me ask you one question. You think Trayce likes it when he reads headlines about him in a totally different sport and one of the first sentences or even the headline reads, “Klay’s brother signs with…”
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
The point I’m trying to make is he’s trying to be his own man trying to be a great baseball player trying to get out from under the shadow of his father and brother and now it might be a little tougher for him in the same city with his very successful bro. That’s all I’m saying. I hope the best for him but I know how tough it is being the brother of a star.
Your comment touched a nerve. Sorry. It’s not always great being close to your star brother when you’re trying to make a name for yourself.
hopper15
So basically this was about the insecurities in your life.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Yup, definitely. I think that’s what I just said.
hopper15
Everyone doesn’t have your insecurities though.
957thegame.com/articles/all-bros-together-trio-tho…
txtgab
Ok… What I am wondering is: Why didn’t Athletics just claim Trayce directly from the Dodgers?
Monkey’s Uncle
It’s possible that they did put in a claim but the Yankees had a higher waiver priority: I honest don’t know which of those teams would have priority over the other. Or maybe the depth situation in Oakland changed somehow in their view over the last few days.
schellis 2
Possibly they thought Blackburn be back sooner when Thompson was put on waivers by dodgers. So they didn’t want to put him on 60 day
lowtalker1
Why would they? The As probably liked the idea but didn’t have space
MB923
Oakland had a higher priority. Perhaps because they didn’t think Blackburn would be on the 60 day DL?
txtgab
Yea, Blackburn on the 60 day is the only logical explanation IMO. Athletics had the higher priority, so just a little puzzling they didn’t pounce on him first.
arc89
Blackburn was thought to only have a short DL stay then yesterday it turned out not progressing like they wanted it to. They have no space on the 40 man for Thompson but now with Blackburn on the 60 DL they have space.
justin-turner overdrive
Blackburn is totally getting TJ, isn’t he?
kingcong95
Joyce twisted his ankle. Perhaps they’re going to put him on DL just now.
nste23
Joyce has been playing on it
Lovetron
Not well, though. He’s not good enough to play injured, so hopefully we DL him
justin-turner overdrive
Playing hurt means you are below replacement level and your team is too dumb or cheap to realize it.
aff10
Just a guess. Maybe they plan to do the same thing that NY tried to do. Claim/waive immediately and hope he clears. Now that he’s cleared most of the league, they can feel confident that if they run him through, he’d clear?
datrain021
So much for Paul Blackburn starting rehab soon.
kimball0401
Thank you for the memories Trayce! Will always be grateful for his time in pinstripes!
fox471 Dave
Smile.
norcalblue
I hope this work out fo both Trayce and the A’s. Seems like an excellent fit for both the player and team.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Hope he can stay healthy.
HalosFan8
After watching the A’s OF fiasco in their opening series, this can only help. I can’t understand how Kris Davis is anything but a 1b or DH. Trayce might be able to help if his bat shows up a bit more than in the past.
sportfan101
Welcome to the A’s glad to have you and being able to spend time with your bro.
rememberthecoop
225/.302 is effective?
ryan.rubinstein
Good PR move with Klay too