Dodgers acquire Tyler White from Astros

The Dodgers have acquired infielder Tyler White from the Astros in exchange for minor-league pitcher Andre Scrubb, as The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported on Thursday:

White was designated for assignment by the Astros on July 20, but it’s not too surprising to see him moved in a trade, considering that he’s cheap and has a recent history of offensive success. He will presumably take the place of corner infielder Matt Beaty on Los Angeles’ major-league roster, but beyond that it’s pretty difficult to see exactly where he fits into the Dodgers’ plans other than as another mix-and-match piece in Dave Roberts’ seemingly never-ending collection of lineup options. White was having a rough 2019 season, hitting .225/.320/.330 with three homers in 253 plate appearances, but he’s coming off a stellar 2018 campaign, highlighted by a .325/.385/.711 slash line in August. White, who has a .739 career OPS over parts of four seasons, hit .276/.354/.533 with 12 homers in 237 plate appearances overall in 2018.

White has primarily played first base in the majors but gained substantial experience at every infield position in the minors, and it’s easy to see Roberts tapping into that versatility more than the Astros did. In a trend that only seems possible because he’s a great teammate and/or looks so funny on the mound, White also has six career pitching appearances, including four this season. He has an 18.56 career ERA and has allowed runs in five of those six outings.

Scrubb, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound right-hander, was selected in the eighth round of the 2016 draft. The 24-year-old has pitched mostly out of the bullpen but was having a stellar season at Double-A Tulsa, posting a 2.45 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP, 56 strikeouts, and 23 walks over 47.2 innings. He’s made two starts, both as an opener, and has 27 relief appearances this season.