The Dodgers are acquiring corner infielder Tyler White from the Astros, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). White, who is out of minor league options, was designated for assignment by Houston last week. The Dodgers are sending righty Andre Scrubb to the Astros in the trade, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports (Twitter link).
White, 28, was excellent for the Astros in a limited role from 2017-18 when he batted .277/.349/.531 with 15 homers, 18 doubles and three triples through 304 plate appearances. He was particularly a nuisance against left-handed pitching, slashing .299/.407/.642 in that time. White hasn’t done much against lefties or righties so far in 2019, though. Given a much larger role with the team, he’s managed only a .225/.320/.330 output at the plate. With the emergence of Yordan Alvarez and several injured Astros returning from the IL, there simply wasn’t room on the Houston roster for White.
The Dodgers recently lost a right-handed bat for the foreseeable future when Chris Taylor landed on the injured list with a fractured forearm. While White can’t match Taylor’s defensive versatility, he’s an affordable alternative with .780 OPS (112 wRC+) against left-handed pitching. And with so many other versatile defenders on the roster, the Dodgers likely don’t mind White’s limited defensive skill set as much.
In Scrubb, Houston will acquire a 24-year-old right-hander who is in the midst of a solid season with Double-A Tulsa. The Dodgers’ eighth-round pick in 2016, he’s pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 0.57 HR/9 and a 53.4 percent ground-ball rate in 47 2/3 innings of work. He’s yet to pitch at the Triple-A level, but Scrubb has a 2.34 ERA and better than 10 punchouts per nine innings in 57 career frames at the Double-A level, suggesting that he could be a near-term bullpen option for the Astros — if not late in the 2019 season then at some point in 2020.
Scrubb is not an ideal name for a pitcher of his caliber.
I thought the same thing about Bummer.
And Blewett
Grant Balfour.
Homer.
Walker.
Or J.J. Putz and/or A.J. Puk
Dodgers love them some fat infielders. #chubbychasers
Scrubb weighs 265. White weighs 225. So the Dodgers got 40lbs lighter.
Not on their infield.
Pitcher is on the infield bud
But Tyler White is also 5’6″ in heels.
It only appears that he’s short because he squats, AND bends over like he’s about to take it up the corn chute when he’s hitting.
5’11”
I’ve met him in person and he is 5’9″ at very best, and that’s being generous. He’s also not 225 lbs. Zero chance that is accurate.
If he’s 225, he must be the weakest man alive! Because theres no chance he weighs 225 AND has any muscle at all.
More likely hes closer to 250.
I know he is listed at 225 lbs but there is no way that is accurate.
No way the guy in that picture in 225. No. Effing. Way.
he is full figured
225?? And what does he weigh from the waist down?
I… don’t know about this one, Dodgers.
They need a right handed bat coming off the bench. Dodgers have a history of turning under achieving players into winners.
Well, not World Series “winners.” Regular season “winners.”
{clap…clap…clap}
Annnnnnd dumbest statement on MLBTR today goes to………PeeWee!
He got traded for a Scrubb
* A.Scrubb
Man you know you’re struggling when you get traded for a Scrubb
Dodgers love corner infielders
The only way this makes sense is if the 1B depth chart is about to take a hit because right now he isnt even the best right handed 1B on this team
The astros got something for him? awesome.
Pro tip: hold your phone’s included header picture in front of a mirror.
The legend of Yordan Alvarez continues.
Anybody else getting vibes of the Dodgers acquiring Max Muncy? Wouldn’t be shocked if they turn him into a 30+ HR hitter with good OBP.
Found the guy who’s never seen Tyler White play before…
That’s what A’s fans would have said about Muncy if someone had suggested he’d turn into a 35 homer all-star
Justin Turner wasn’t the player he was before the dodgers and look at him now.
white’s been great at AAA, had very good stretches in the majors, and has been striking out a ton this year after never really having that problem before. obviously nothing’s ever guaranteed with a player like this but from a distance he really looks like he should be fixable… somehow
it’s also possible he’s just out of shape this year. he was never small, but back in the spring the first reports were like “wow white really hit the buffet over the offseason”. so this might be a case where a take-your-career-seriously offseason’s worth of workouts could do wonders
Couldn’t agree more. He looks like a change of scenery candidate. That and drop some lbs, I think he could be above replacement level again.
Yes. Immediately what I thought when I saw this. Wasn’t White a near top prospect/untouchable at some point? It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Dodgers turned him into a star.
He has never been a top prospect. Drafted in the 33rd rd.
Had a very good minor league career and has been very good for short periods in the majors.
Had a great second half of the season last year with 12 doubles, 12 Homer’s, 42 RBI and .888 OPS in only 210 AB.
But has been no where near that player this year.
Then Yordan took his job.
Ok thanks for the clear up. I think it was Kyle Tucker I was getting mixed up with. Regardless, the Dodgers see something in him to trade for him, imo. It still wouldn’t surprise me to see him get better.
A.J. Reed, who was recently DFAed and picked up by CWS, was a top pick. That’s probably who you were thinking about.
why ?? as they have such roster versatility both on the big squad and on the farm…..
He’s pitched three innings in relief, so maybe that’s why the Dodgers got him.
Maybe this will spark the trades
White is a DH and a relief pitcher… We got Alvarez… a DH, and Scrubb a relief pitcher…
Since he’s out of options he’ll need to be on the 25 man roster…….who’s going out?
I believe he has to be on the 40-man. When they optioned Gale it opened a spot on the long roster.
He’s out of options, so if the Dodgers want to send him down they have to DFA him as well.
Yeah, I guess you’re right, which only deepens the mystery of this trade.
Kikè probably going to IL… Dodgers have room on the 40 man already.
They already have David Freese?????
Look at that fat SOB.
The hot stove is sizzling!
While I’m happy the Astros got a return for Tyler White, I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to turn a corner and start raking for the Dodgers (a la Max Muncy). We all know that he is capable. Maybe the Dodgers are looking for potential insider information in case of a World Series matchup…
Probably not this year. It took Muncy a season in Mexico to figure out his swing. The Dodgers had very little to do with his success.
Source?
Because he was only in the Mexican League for a month in the winter
@Athletic………FALSE
Next Justin turner/Chris Taylor/ max muncy
I think it’s obvious the Dodgers see something in his swing. They are the best at changing swings/approach and seeing results, no doubt about it. He’s under control here so worth a shot.
He lunges at pitches low and away and looks off balance on most of his other swings. He appears to be swinging for the fences most of the time. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good. Although, I’m wondering how much on field playing time he will get, since his defensive abilities are questionable at best. He’ll probably be best suited for pinch hitting duties, or starting games and coming out for defensive replacement later in the game.
White is a fat oaf who belongs on a beer league softball team.
So was Babe, Reuschel, Panda, Fernando, Boog, Madlock, Kruk and on and on and on. If he can hit it won’t matter what he weighs.
Babe Ruth wasn’t severely overweight until the end of his career. But, your point is taken. Still, very few obese players can perform at MLB levels. There just aren’t many types out there: Tyler White is not 225, he’s 280+ and doesn’t have the power of Greg Luzinski and Cecil Fielder or the overall greatness of Kirby Puckett and Tony Gwynn; he’s just plain obese!
Brian mccann and Evan gattis were alright
…and he can’t hit….
offense like an obese catcher.
Don’t go chasing waterfalls Dodgers
This was the Astros best case scenario after the DFA. Got something somewhat promising in return. Nice.
Watch him start raking with the Dodgers!
And watch him find Roscoe’s House Of Chicken and Waffles and gorge himself into Bartolo and CC territory…
You mean future HOF CC and the legend Bartolo?
more like permanent IL like Mo Vaughan and Prince Fielder.
How many Dodger dogs do you think this guy can throw down?
Dodgers looking for more belly bombs.
The Dodgers don’t have a G.M. who is calling the shots Andrew or someone else?
Some day the Dodgers may have a GM again, but with or without one, Friedman is always going to be calling the shots.
I just got a good look at White and uh….um……on second thought, you guys are right; he is waaay too big. Good grief. Maybe he’ll embrace the So Cal lifestyle eating tofu and doing yoga. Keep him away from In N Out, Philippe’s, Tommy burgers and Pink’s.
Trade away a potentially solid relief pitcher, which you need several of, for a poor hitting 1b type, which you don’t need any of. Okay.
He’s a fringe reliever with a 30-35 FV. The Dodgers were never going to put him on the 40 man. He’s a absolutely buried on the depth chart because they have better more intriguing arms. Sometimes I just shake my head with some of the criticism. With Kikè probably going on the shelf having a RH bench is needed. The Dodgers have an abundance of talent and a roster crunch. But I guess they should keep it all and let it stagnate until they cut it or lose it for nothing.
Last time Dodgers made a trade with the Astros was Josh Fields for Yordan Alvarez. How did that turn out? We’ll take Scrubbs for White. White is a useful player, someone who can play multiple infield positions and can hit a bit, with some power. The thing is that he has ballooned overweight this year and can’t seem to get around on pitches. He did hit a bit better over the past month. Stros had no place for him on the roster, given Alvarez took that spot. Wish him all the luck in the world, unless Dodgers play the Stros.
Tip of the cap to the Astros quite honestly. They did all their research on Alvarez. They scouted him and wanted him. The Dodgers used their capital to try to buy an arm, which definitely wasn’t the first time, signing a player another team really liked. The trade didn’t end up the way the Dodgers wanted it to, no doubt. But trying to compare it to this is more than a reach.
Look the Dodgers known their system well and have turned into a well oil machine. They needed a cheap RH bench bat/occasional starter, due to multiple injuries and they traded a RP that had no real future in the org. Could he by some miracle turn into something amazing? Sure. Could White turn back into the absolute LH masher or hitter he was last year? Sure. Chances are neither are likely, I mean White May still crush LHs this season as he starts to heat up, but seems as a stop gap or protection. That said with promotions and depth the Dodgers sacrificed nothing of there’s to obtain nothing of the Astros. I’m not really going to question the Dodgers offensive evals and development system, bc well it’d be pretty dumb quite honestly, especially considering the success stories they continue to churn out. And tbh they far outweigh the occasional miss. Either way I find it comical that people would act as though It’s sac relig to trade Scrubbs, when he’s probably closer to 10th on the “if all goes to S list” that hasn’t seen the majors we’d call him up.
Aren’t you being just a tad hyperbolic? I looked back to the original comment, and I don’t find anything remotely comical in the idea that the Dodgers need relief pitching more than anything else. I don’t know where Scrubbs fit into the depth chart, but I also don’t see a lot of interesting relief arms in the system today. If they were there, we’d be seeing some promotions by now, because the ones they’ve had on the roster so far are unimpressive, to say the least.
As for cheap, I don’t see the need for cheap anything. But then maybe that’s because I’ve already seen the season ticket price increase for next year.
I can’t believe the Astros got anything for White. Don’t know a thing about this Scrubb guy but hopefully his name isn’t indicative of his ability.
Guess the Dodgers don’t want no Scrubbs
Wouldn’t surprise me if Beaty was dealt for a reliever.
Seems like an overpay by the Dodgers. 24 year old kid with a sub 2.50 ERA in double AA for a poor man’s Rob Deer? Willing to bet that Scrubb becomes part of the Astros 2020 bullpen while White gets DFA’d again.