Trading Trayvon: The Emotional Aftermath

The reality that MLB is a cold business is difficult to swallow after reading this piece, tipped to us by Fernie V., that describes the human element involved in Ned Colletti's trading of Trayvon Robinson. Most Dodger fans are livid about losing one of our top prospects for a barrel of smaller fish; and Robinson, a Dodger fan since childhood, would agree:

Trayvon Robinson returned to Isotopes Park on Wednesday afternoon unsure of where to go.

He did not know how to get from the visitor's clubhouse down to the field. It was understandable, considering Robinson spent the first 100 games of the season on the opposite side of the stadium.

“It’s a little weird," Robinson said. "I had to go get my car, so I did get to go to the home clubhouse. I had to get the rest of my stuff. It was quite emotional."

Robinson was traded from the Isotopes to the Tacoma Rainiers on Sunday, part of a three-team trade between their parent clubs, the Dodgers and Mariners plus the Boston Red Sox.

The 23-year-old outfielder, one of Los Angeles' top prospects, was dealt away so the Dodgers could address their lack of catching by acquiring prospect Tim Federowicz and two pitchers from Boston. Robinson was hitting .293 with a team-leading 26 home runs and 71 RBI at the time of the swap.

The Red Sox, in turn, packaged Robinson and Double-A outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang to the Mariners for big-league left-hander Erik Bedard and Triple-A reliever Josh Fields.

“I got a call from the (Dodgers') field coordinator, De Jon Watson, it was like minutes before the deadline," said Robinson, who was heading with the Isotopes to the ballpark in New Orleans at the time. "I didn’t even think nothing of it. I wasn’t even thinking about that. I was thinking about some of my boys getting traded. You never think it would be you getting traded from your hometown team."

When Watson told him about the trade, Robinson thought he was joking. Then reality set in.

“The bus was about to leave and I had to step off," Robinson said. "I couldn’t believe it. He said stay by the phone, it might be a three-way trade.

“I got back on the bus and it just hit me that I was not a Dodger any more. I was a Red Sox for five minutes. Then De Jon called me back and said Boston traded you for Erik Bedard of the Seattle Mariners."

Robinson grew up in Los Angeles, attending Crenshaw High School, from which he was drafted in the 10th round in 2005. He was a Dodger fan from the time he was a boy.

“(It was) very, very emotional," Robinson said. "Immediately I started thinking about what I’ve lost as far as teammates, all the staff who was on my side. Just everything. I really did want to be a part of the Dodgers’ big-league (team), me being from that hometown. That would have been the best thing ever. I dreamed about that every day.

“Why me? It was my first time being traded. That door that I was walking through since I was 17 closed. It was very, very emotional. But thank god another one opened up. Hopefully it’s a good opportunity."

We are just as sad to see you go, Trayvon. Believe me.

A footnote: Trayvon Robinson is 1-for-9 with 3 BBs since joining the Tacoma Rainiers.