New York Yankees Add Former First-Round Pick Outfielder From Los Angeles Dodgers

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 8: James Outman #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his solo home run with Taylor Trammell #6 against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning at Target Field on April 8, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Yankees claimed former Dodgers outfielder Taylor Trammell of waivers.

The New York Yankees have claimed outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, the team announced. To make room on the 40-man roster for Trammell, infielder Kevin Smith was designated for assignment.

Trammell was acquired by the Dodgers via a trade with the Seattle Mariners earlier this season after he didn’t make their Opening Day roster and was DFA’d.

The 26-year-old has struggled to put things together at the major league level after being drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

After working his way up through the Reds’ minor league system, Trammell was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2019 as part of a three-team trade that sent Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati and also involved Cleveland. Then in 2020, he was a part of another big trade, this time a seven-player deal that sent him to the Seattle Mariners from the Padres.

The Mariners would be Trammell’s organization for the next three seasons. He made his major league debut in 2021 and appeared in 51 games, but slashed just .160/.256/.359 with eight home runs and 18 RBIs. In 2022, Trammell appeared in 43 games, and slashed .196/.284/.402 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. And in 2023, Trammell appeared in just 22 games, and slashed .130/.286/.326 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Trammell ended up taking just six at-bats with the Dodgers this year, going 0-for-6 with three strikeouts. He was designated for assignment when the team called up their top outfield prospect, Andy Pages.

Trammell will now head to New York, where he’ll hope to make an impact on one of baseball’s best teams. The Yankees hold the top spot in the Newsweek MLB Power Rankings.

Trammell has tons of talent, but just hasn’t been able to put it together at the big league level.

Fortunately, he won’t have much pressure to contribute, as the Yankees’ starting outfield consists of Alex Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, who is off to one of the best starts in franchise history in his first season in the Bronx. Behind them as the fourth outfielder is Trent Grisham, whom the team acquired in the Soto trade with the Padres. He’s currently 0-for-10 to open the season.

Trammell will likely start in Triple-A, and will hope to earn himself a call-up to show what he can do in New York. At just 26 years old, Trammell has ample time to live up to his first-round potential.

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