After weeks largely filled with silence, the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a significant trade on Wednesday that figures to play a role in how the club’s 2016 roster shakes out.
As part of a three-team trade with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers acquired prospects Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson.
Los Angeles parted with Brandon Dixon, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler, with all three going to Cincinnati.
The White Sox’s lone player acquired was All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier from the Reds.
All three prospects the Dodgers received are 24 years old or younger, which meshes well with the front office’s vision for the future as much as the present.
Montas, 22, spent part of the 2015 season in Double-A where he posted a 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and held opponents to a .219 batting average. Friedman described the hard-throwing right-hander as having one of the best fastball-slider combinations in the Minors, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
Friedman on Montas: "Our scouts feel like his fastball-slider combination is one of the best in the minor leagues."
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 16, 2015
Montas made his Major League debut last season, appearing in seven games with two of them coming as a starter. Aside from his Sept. 23 start against the Detroit Tigers where he allowed six earned runs in three innings, the 22 year old only allowed two earned runs in 12 innings over the other six appearances.
Thompson, 24, is a versatile outfielder who hails from California. He’s the son of former Los Angeles Lakers center Mychal Thompson, and the brother to Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
After spending the first half of the season in Triple-A, Trayce Thompson was called up to the Majors for the final two months of the season. He appeared in 44 games, batting .295/.363/.533 with five home runs and 16 RBIs.
Friedman cited Thompson’s versatility and strong athletic family background via,
According to ESPN’s Mark Saxon:
Andrew Friedman called Trayce Thompson an "exceptional athlete with strong blood lines."
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) December 16, 2015
Johnson, 24, is a second baseman from Indiana. With the White Sox calling up much of their prospects throughout the 2015 season, Johnson also got the opportunity to audition in the Major Leagues.
The ninth-round pick from the 2012 draft began the season with the White Sox, but was sent down to Triple-A Charlotte just two months into the season. He hit .315/.375/.466 with three triples, 17 doubles and scored 54 runs in 78 Triple-A games.
Johnson added 28 stolen bases. Friedman complimented the second baseman’s speed, according to LA Times’ Dylan Hernandez:
Friedman describes Micah Johnson as a "plus-plus" runner.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 16, 2015
Johnson joined the White Sox in September, though again struggled at the plate. While the Dodgers added three prospects with upside to the organization on Wednesday, the jury is out as to whether or not all three or any of them will remain with the club.
