The Chicago Cubs have signed Trayce Thompson, the brother of Mavericks star Klay Thompson, to a minor league deal. This will be Thompson’s second stint with the Cubs after playing 15 games on the North Side in 2021.
Cubs Sign Brother Of NBA Star
Trayce Thompson was cut loose by the Mets earlier this month after batting .228/.300/.500 over 62 games with Triple-A Syracuse. While the Cubs never formally announced, the move is reflected on the team’s transaction log. Thompson debuted with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines last night, scoring 1-for-4 with a pair of runs.
Cubs Sign Trayce Thompson To Minor League Deal
Ironically, the former second-rounder was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2009. He spent seven seasons in the minors before making his MLB debut in 2015. The now 33-year-old outfielder played in 44 games for the Sox in 2015, slashing .295/.363/.533 with five homers. He was eventually traded to the Dodgers in a three-team trade that sent infielder Todd Frazier to the South Side.
Thompson spent time with five different organizations before he was acquired by the Cubs in 2021. In 2023, he returned to the White Sox, where he batted just .171/.261/.232 over 36 games. Though he’s never been a regular in the majors, Thompson has accrued more than four years of service time across parts of seven MLB campaigns. He has long had impressive raw power and, earlier in his career, also boasted plus speed. Statcast rated his speed as average over 72 games split between the Dodgers and the White Sox last season.
Thompson will provide much-needed depth for the Cubs. Hours after signing with the Cubs last night, outfielder Cody Bellinger exited Chicago’s game against the Orioles after getting hit on the hand by Baltimore’s Cionel Pérez. While the extent of Bellinger’s injury is unclear, he did say postgame that he could not throw a ball. If Bellinger misses time, Chicago could call up outfield prospect Alexander Canario or Thompson to replace him.
What Thompson Brings To Cubs
Whatever the immediate future holds for Trayce Thompson, the veteran outfielder gives the Cubs an experienced depth option who already has 16 long balls in the books this year. Posting a .237/.307/.465 batting line in parts of seven Triple-A seasons, Thompson looks well on his way to his fifth professional season with 20-plus homers.
Main Photo Credits: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
