The Arizona Diamondbacks shook up their lineup on May 8, promoting top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. The corresponding roster move was designating Alek Thomas for assignment.
Such is the business of professional sports. The day one player’s dream begins is often the same day another player’s ends.
Thomas was once viewed as a core player and delivered the biggest postseason hit since 2001. His game-tying home run in Game 4 of the 2023 NLCS turned the tide of the series, with Arizona ultimately prevailing over the Philadelphia Phillies in seven games after falling behind 2-0.
The Diamondbacks have seven days to decide Thomas’ future, whether that’s trade him or try to pass him through outright waivers. General manager Mike Hazen told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that the club is receiving interest in the 26-year-old outfielder.
Alek Thomas’ Tenure with the Diamondbacks
Thomas joined the Diamondbacks as a second-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft. The left-handed-hitting outfielder took $1.2 million to forego a commitment to Texas Christian University and embark on his pro career. Four years later, he’d reach the major leagues with Arizona.
The 2022 season started a youth movement in the franchise, as Thomas joined Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and Geraldo Perdomo. Those four players joined Ketel Marte as the potential core of Arizona’s position player group. That group helped carry the Diamondbacks to a 2023 World Series berth.
For Thomas, the 2023 postseason was supposed to be his arrival moment. Instead, injuries and a poor performance at the plate derailed his career. Since 2024, the outfielder has slashed .230/.273/.363 over 210 games. A hamstring injury sidelined him for much of the first season.
Thomas had undergone swing changes ahead of the 2026 season, removing that big leg kick. That helped in reducing his high ground ball rate in the past, as it sits at 43.1% for the season. That’s a mark that is well below his career mark of 55.2%.
Unfortunately, his approach at the plate didn’t improve much, which undercut the improvement in contact quality. Thomas ranked in the fifth percentile with a 42.4% chase rate. That led to a career-low 3.0% walk rate and a 52 wRC+ for the season.
With not many indications of an improvement, the Diamondbacks simply ran out of patience. Instead, the team will look to its top prospect to provide a spark in the bottom of their lineup.
Why Alek Thomas Should Garner Trade Interest
While Thomas’ .181/.222/.340 slash line should scare some teams; there are still some encouraging signs. The 26-year-old has one minor league option remaining, which should appeal to any team looking to buy low on a controllable center field option. Thomas is owed the remainder of his $1.9625 million salary in his first trip through arbitration.
As a left-handed hitter, Thomas fits the strong side of any potential platoon in the outfield. For his career, he’s +13 Outs Above Average in center field, although much of that came in his first two seasons. After being a league-average defender in 2025, he’s bounced back to +2 OAA in 2026.
As mentioned earlier, the swing changes have helped him lift the ball in the air more. That has led to a career high 8.6% barrel rate and an average launch angle of 11.7 degrees. That’s reflected in his expected metrics, as his .397 xSLG and .359 xwOBA on contact are the highest of his career in a healthy season.
The main priority for a team acquiring Thomas will be to tighten up his strike zone and reduce the chase rate. If his next team can solve that issue, they have a potential contributor for at least another three seasons.
Diamondbacks Receiving Interest for DFA’d Outfielder, per GM