HOUSTON -- No matter which team captured last year¡¯s World Series, Taylor Trammell was guaranteed to get a championship ring. That made watching the Fall Classic on television a rather unusual experience, especially considering Trammell wanted nothing more than to be on the field competing himself.

Trammell, 27, spent time last season with both the Dodgers and Yankees, combining to play in only 10 games in the big leagues -- five for each team. He spent most of the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yanks' system, playing in 106 games while slashing .256/.381/.488 with 20 doubles, 18 homers and 63 RBIs.

¡°It¡¯s obviously cool that I got to be a part of those teams and with L.A. being able to get a ring with those guys is awesome, but in the grand scheme of things I¡¯m a competitor,¡± said Trammell, who was acquired in a trade with the Yankees in November. ¡°I want to be there. I don¡¯t think anybody really wants a participation trophy or anything like that.¡±

The Astros traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs in December, leaving Jake Meyers as the starter in center field and Chas McCormick in right field. They also want to avoid playing slugger Yordan Alvarez in left field more in ¡¯25, so there are at-bats to be had there. Trammell can play all three outfield positions.

¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it,¡± Trammell said. ¡°The things will fall into place. I feel confident in my ability to come out here and win a spot. Ultimately, I kind of blocked it out. It doesn¡¯t matter who I¡¯m going against or anything like that. I¡¯m focusing on what I can do help the team. Everybody has to do their job and that¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do. I¡¯m not going to be focusing on me; it¡¯s ¡®What can I do to help the team?¡¯ That¡¯s coming in getting a guy over, driving runs in, stealing bags, playing great defense. That¡¯s what I¡¯m going to do and I¡¯m really looking forward to that.¡±

The left-handed-hitting outfielder has appeared in 126 career Major League games for the Mariners (2021-23), Dodgers (¡®24) and Yankees (¡®24) with a .633 OPS. (Trammell¡¯s career-high in plate appearances is 178, which he set his rookie season with the Mariners in ¡®21.) He was a first-round pick, having been selected with the 35th overall selection by the Reds in the 2016 MLB Draft.

When the Yankees told him in the offseason they were going to trade him, Trammell was ecstatic.

¡°Whenever you hear something that you¡¯re just kind of like, ¡®Where?¡¯¡± Trammell said. ¡°For me, I¡¯ve been very blessed and fortunate in my career to be with a lot of very good organizations. Obviously, last year being with the Dodgers and Yankees, it was a blast. I always had a soft spot in my heart for Houston because it reminds me a lot of Atlanta, where I¡¯m from. Obviously, the people are amazing here. That Texas hospitality, southern hospitality is something I¡¯m used to.¡±

Having played against the Astros for three seasons while he was with the Mariners, Trammell knows the expectations in Houston. The Astros have won seven of the past eight American League West division titles, highlighted by a pair of World Series titles.

¡°It was always one of those things when I went there, there was something different about these guys,¡± Trammell said. ¡°They play the game a little bit different. They play the game with heart and passion and the fans are great here.¡±

Trammell smiled when asked about receiving his World Series next season from the Dodgers, but his focus is on being on the field and helping the Astros win one in ¡¯25.

¡°It¡¯s making sure this year I¡¯m in the playoffs with Houston and I¡¯m able to hold up that trophy with Houston,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s my goal.¡±