Thomas dealt to Guardians for three prospects

PHOENIX – Lane Thomas joined the Nationals on the day the organization began to tear down its championship roster and start a massive roster rebuild. Three years later, with the franchise believing its much closer to winning again, he’s heading to another organization right in the thick of a pennant race.

The Nats traded Thomas to the Guardians this afternoon for three prospects, including highly touted 19-year-old left-hander Alex Clemmey, opting to deal one of their coveted regulars who still had another season of club control about 24 hours before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Along with Clemmey, Cleveland’s 2023 second-round pick and current No. 7 prospect, the Nationals receive 19-year-old infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr. and 23-year-old infielder Jose Tena, who has big league experience and joins the 40-man roster.

It’s a significant haul for the 28-year-old Thomas, who got off to a slow start this season but entered the day batting .253 with eight homers, 40 RBIs, 28 stolen bases and a .738 OPS in 77 games. The outfielder spent the last few days trying to block out trade rumors but wasn’t caught completely off-guard when he was called into manager Davey Martinez’s office at Chase Field about three hours before tonight’s series opener against the Diamondbacks.

“It’s always a little bit of a shock, even when you know they’re looking to do something like that,” Thomas said. “I’ve been in this situation before, so I feel like that makes it a little bit easier. My wife has dealt with it, too. I think we’re ready to go help another team.”

Thomas joined the Nationals on July 30, 2021, as part of the last of six deadline deals made by general manager Mike Rizzo to trade away eight veterans for a host of prospects who would jumpstart the team’s rebuild. Most were surprised when Rizzo was able to acquire Thomas from the Cardinals for struggling left-hander Jon Lester, who was two months away from retirement.

It wound up being one of the best deals Rizzo has made in a decade and a half running the Nationals. A part-time player in St. Louis, Thomas became a fixture in right field in D.C., totaling 92 doubles, 10 triples, 60 homers, 205 RBIs, 60 stolen bases and a .759 OPS across parts of the last four seasons.

Thomas, who also led all National League outfielders with 18 assists last year, grew into a clubhouse leader, popular with teammates, fans and media alike. And because he can’t become a free agent until after the 2025 season, he could have been part of a roster that may be ready to return to contention next year.

“He’s one of my quiet leaders out there. It’s tough,” Martinez said. “We have a good relationship. Players love him. And he’s really good player. Cleveland’s going to get a really good player. I wish him all the best.”

Thomas’ contract status, though, along with his affordable $5.45 million salary this season, made him attractive to contenders trying to win right now. Rizzo said all along he intended to set a high asking price for the outfielder, and ultimately found a willing partner in the Guardians, the American League Central leaders who parted with three prospects to acquire him.

Clemmey, rated Cleveland’s No. 7 prospect by Baseball America, is a 6-foot-6 left-hander with a big arm and some wild stats in his first professional season after getting drafted out of a Rhode Island high school last summer. Pitching for Single-A Lynchburg, he had a 4.67 ERA and 1.442 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 47 walks in 69 1/3 innings.

Ramirez, also 19, was rated the Guardians’ No. 20 prospect by Baseball America and was signed as a teenager in 2022. Primarily a shortstop, he’s batting .187 with a .301 on-base percentage in 54 games at Lynchburg this season.

Tena, at 23, is the most experienced of the three prospects and has 21 games of big league experience over the last two seasons. He has 17 homers, 63 RBIs and 14 steals to go along with a .298/.353/.492 slash line in 90 games at Triple-A Columbus.

Having already dealt Jesse Winker to the Mets on Saturday night prior to today’s Thomas trade, the Nationals suddenly have a depleted lineup. Martinez is starting Alex Call in right field in Thomas’ place tonight, but the club plans to call outfielder Travis Blankenhorn up from Triple-A Rochester before Tuesday night’s game, according to a source familiar with the move.

Meanwhile, recently promoted first baseman Juan Yepez is batting second in Thomas’ place tonight, with recently acquired designated hitter Harold Ramírez batting third against Arizona lefty Jordan Montgomery.

As Martinez was scrambling to come up with a new lineup, Thomas was scrambling to make travel plans to meet the Guardians in Detroit and make sure his family are taken care of. Then he walked onto the field to say goodbye to a host of Nationals players who were already beginning to stretch before batting practice, disappointed he won’t get a chance to be part of a contender in D.C. but excited to join a division leader in Cleveland.

“I’ve always said that to you guys, that it would be fun to see this thing through with a lot of these young guys,” Thomas said. “But they’re going to be fine. The talent you’ve seen from James (Wood), CJ (Abrams) and MacKenzie (Gore) and all these guys that are still so young and have so much time to improve … it’ll be fun to watch. I’ll be rooting for them, for sure.”