Newest Dodger Taylor Trammell Has Theory Why Mariners Cut Him After Strong Spring
The Dodgers signed outfielder Taylor Trammell on Tuesday. The 26-year-old hasn’t been in the starting lineup for either of his first two games with his new team, but he figures to get a chance while Jason Heyward recovers from a stiff back. Heyward is currently on the 10-day injured list.
Trammell is a former top prospect who has yet to break through with any of his first three organizations. The Cincinnati Reds traded him to the San Diego Padres in 2019, part of a three-team, seven-player swap. A year later, the Padres traded Trammell to the Seattle Mariners as part of the Austin Nola/Ty France deal.
In Seattle, Trammell got his first crack at major league playing time. He appeared in 116 games from 2021-23, slashing .168/.270/.368 with 130 strikeouts in 304 at-bats. Although his defense graded out well, Trammell’s bat never delivered on its promise. By the time spring training began, he was out of minor league options.
In an interview with Dodgers Nation, Trammell said he was able to accomplish the goals he set for himself in the Mariners’ camp.
“I wanted to continue to walk; that’s one of the skills I displayed,” he said Wednesday, prior to the Dodgers’ game against the San Francisco Giants. “I wanted to show I could go to the other side of the field with the ball. I wanted to take my singles, hit my line drives. It was kind of funny because that’s all I was trying to do the first ‘x’ amount of weeks. I was kind of like, ‘you know what, if I want to get big — not even get big — but if I want to catch something a little bit out in front I can.’ But I really want to catch the ball deep. Work on my bat-to-ball contact. Just get in a good place to hit the ball. I was able to do that.”
Additionally, Trammell said he wanted to focus on speed work, both on the basepaths and in the field. As a minor leaguer he has stolen 143 bases on 17 attempts over seven seasons (2016-23). In Cactus League action, with the benefit of baseball’s new rules designed to encourage stolen bases, Trammell went 3-for-3 in steal attempts.
By his own standards, Trammell’s spring training was a success all around. He reached base at a .385 clip and drew nearly as many walks (7) as he had hits (8). He even slugged a home run despite his renewed focus on not “getting big” in his swing.
So why was Trammell designated for assignment on March 28?
“I think that was a decision that was already made” before spring training, Trammell said. “We had talked and it was an uphill battle from the start. I appreciated (the Mariners) telling me, but I felt that I did what I wanted to do, I showed what I needed to show, and per the feedback from a lot of guys that I talked to, I showed a lot of good things. I was very very happy with how I performed.”
The Mariners re-acquired Mitch Haniger in January, and acquired Luke Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays the same week. The two outfielders stayed healthy throughout camp, effectively blocking any other aspiring outfielders from playing time. While he didn’t name names of specific players, Trammell feels like the other outfielders crowded out of the Mariners’ depth chart before he could ascend it.
“Certain guys played well — very well — and you’ve got to live with that,” he said. “I don’t think that diminshed anything I did.”
Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
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