Thompson back in his happy place with White Sox
Trayce Thompson still remembers the phone call from Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn.
"Like it was yesterday," Thompson said. "Getting traded from here, I was devastated. Rick called me and told me I was going back home. I grew up in Oregon. I grew up a Seattle Mariners fan, not a Dodgers fan. But playing for the Dodgers was special."
Just not as special as playing for the Sox.
"I wanted to be with the White Sox," Thompson said. "I was drafted by this team when I was a teenager. You know I wanted to be here for as long as I could possibly think of.
"These guys took a chance on me when I was a teenager and they stuck with me when I was not good in the minor leagues. They always believed in me."
Still believing Thompson can be a productive player, the Sox acquired the 27-year-old outfielder from the Athletics Thursday night for cash considerations.
To clear a roster spot for Thompson, the White Sox dealt utility infielder Tyler Saladino to the Brewers for cash.
The Sox's second-round draft pick in 2009 out of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Southern California, Thompson spent six seasons in the minor leagues before joining the White Sox in 2015. The long wait seemed to be worth it, as Thompson batted .295 with 5 home runs and 16 RBI in 44 games while playing sound defense.
In December 2015, the Sox traded Thompson to the Dodgers in a three-way deal that brought Todd Frazier over from the Reds.
Thompson spent two seasons with Los Angeles and was hampered by two small stress fractures in his back.
The younger brother of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was claimed off waivers by the Yankees on April 3 and then claimed off waivers by the A's two days later.
The White Sox are Thompson's fourth team in the young season.
"It's been crazy," Thompson said. "Heading into the off-season, the Dodgers had such an amazing year and just being there for part of it was pretty cool, but I saw the writing on the wall. I thought initially, because if I'm healthy I know I can play on that team and I know can compete, I think they know that, too, but I think they had their sights set on something else.
"I was in limbo a while but then getting claimed by the Yankees, I initially thought that was going to be a pretty good situation but then they let me know what their intentions were. A couple more days go by and then going to Oakland for a week or week and a half, whatever it was. It's been a whirlwind for sure, but I couldn't ask to be in a better place than this."
Thompson starts his second run with the Sox as the fourth outfielder, but that could change. He wasn't in the starting lineup Friday against the Astros but could eventually replace light-hitting Adam Engel in center.
"It's going to evolve here over the coming weeks," Hahn said. "I think he's going to provide an option at all three outfield positions, certainly at the bare minimum he'll provide some defensive assistance late in ballgames."