The Cleveland Indians have decided to have outfielder Trayce Thompson and relief pitcher Nick Goody to start the season with AAA Columbus.
The roster trimming continues. The latest move is having Nick Goody and Trayce Thompson starting this season in AAA with the Columbus Clippers rather than in Cleveland with the Indians. Mandy Bell of MLB.com reported the news Saturday afternoon.
Both decisions are hardly surprising. Goody and Thompson were considered by most to be on the outside looking in for the majority of Spring Training. There just is not enough open spots for either play to make the Opening Day roster.
There were just too many outfielders contending for spots to justify having Trayce Thompson in Cleveland. The Indians are already trying to juggle multiple other players without considering Thompson. Add in the fact that the roster status of Hanley Ramirez could drastically change things, Trayce Thompson was not going to make the Indians roster coming back from Arizona. Thompson slashed .293/.383./.610/.993 while driving in eight runs with three doubles, two triples and two home runs. Thompson may earn a call-up sometime this season, but that is not necessarily a guarantee.
Nick Goody had a chance to make an impact for the suspect Indians bullpen, but alas will start the year in Columbus. Goody appeared in seven games in Arizona. Allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out seven. The .276 average against Goody this spring is not exactly what the Indians wanted to see. For reference Goody allowed a .288 batting average last season in 12 games (11.2 innings) last season. During the 2017 season that number was .197 in 56 games (54.2 innings). The year before Goody very well could get a chance in Cleveland this year, but how long it lasts will be entirely dependent on his ability to limit opposing batters consistently.
