After spending seven years with the team that drafted him in 2005, and only 40 major-league games to show for it, Ivan De Jesus wanted the Dodgers to trade him.

That’s what the infielder told the Boston Globe on Tuesday:

De Jesus was hoping the Dodgers would trade him before the non-waiver deadline on July 31. When that passed, it was disappointing.

“I wanted a fresh start,” said De Jesus, who has been playing with Pawtucket. “It was eight years with the Dodgers. I had a lot of great times and I learned a lot of good stuff.

“But there were some bad times, too. It was up and down for me. I needed to clean my mind a little bit and see what was out there for me.

“At the trade deadline, I wanted to get traded and it didn’t happen. Nothing happened and I was like, ‘OK, I will try and finish strong.’ Then this happened. I was really excited.”

De Jesus, a second-round pick in 2005, hit .289 with a .759 OPS as a minor leaguer with the Dodgers. But he played in only 40 major league games (12 as a starter) over two seasons.

“I just wanted a chance to show people what I can do,” he said. “I just want to show people that I can play in the big leagues.”

Don’t tell Tommy Lasorda, but it’s hard to blame De Jesus after the Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez and handed the shortstop (later third-base) job to Luis Cruz, leaving De Jesus near the bottom of a crowded depth chart that also included Dee Gordon.