Washington Nationals GM and President of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo had mentioned earlier this month that there were many teams interested in Lane Thomas. The 28-year-old outfielder, who joined the Nationals at the 2021 Trade Deadline, has delivered a solid performance in four seasons with the team, posting a .257/.320/.439 line, 92 doubles, and 60 home runs in 424 games.
Rizzo praised Thomas’s arm strength in right field, his power, and his performance against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers. He emphasized that the Nationals would only make a trade if they were comfortable with the deal.
On Monday night, as the Nationals were gearing up for a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, they found a deal they were satisfied with and traded Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians. In return, Washington received left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey, infielder José Tena, and infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr.
Clemmey, a 19-year-old and a 2023 second-round pick by Cleveland, was ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Guardians’ system by Baseball America and No. 8 by MLB Pipeline. He has had an impressive season, with a 2.28 ERA, 63 strikeouts, a 1.18 WHIP, and a .185 opponents’ average in his last 11 starts since May 24.
José Tena, who signed with the Guardians as an undrafted free agent in 2017, was leading Cleveland’s Minor League system in several categories before the trade. He had 110 hits, ranked second in home runs (17), third in RBI (63), fourth in extra-base hits (36), batting average (.298), and sixth in both slugging percentage (.493) and OPS (.846).
Rafael Ramirez Jr., who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2022, is ranked as the No. 20 prospect by Baseball America and No. 23 by MLB Pipeline in the Guardians’ system. In 2024, he has 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 30 walks, seven stolen bases, and 23 runs scored. However, he’s hitting .187 with a .301 on-base percentage and a .319 slugging percentage in 54 games.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez expressed his appreciation for Lane Thomas, noting his strong relationships with teammates and the impact he had during his time in Washington. Martinez wished Thomas well with the Guardians, acknowledging the opportunity for him to help them make a playoff run and start a new chapter in his career.
Since the Nationals acquired Lane Thomas from the Cardinals in exchange for Jon Lester, he has made significant improvements both at the plate and in the field. Manager Dave Martinez praised Thomas for his dedication and hard work, highlighting how he responded well to challenges and consistently performed both on and off the field.
Martinez expressed confidence in Thomas, noting that he has been a reliable and valuable player for the team. Thomas, reflecting on being traded for the third time in his career, admitted that it’s always a shock, even when you’re aware that a trade might be forthcoming.
Lane Thomas, reflecting on his trade to the Guardians, noted that his previous trade experiences make this transition a bit easier for him and his wife. He joined the Nationals at the beginning of their rebuild and contributed significantly during some challenging seasons. As the team’s young talent, like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore, starts to take shape, Thomas expressed regret at not seeing it through but showed enthusiasm for the future success of the team.
Nationals manager Mike Rizzo has indicated that they are open to making deals that benefit the team’s future. With the trade deadline approaching, Kyle Finnegan’s recent struggles, including giving up a five-run inning, could impact his trade status. Finnegan is a potential trade candidate, and his performance in the upcoming games could influence whether he remains with the Nationals or is dealt before the deadline.
