DFA’d Diamondbacks outfielder already receiving trade interest

On Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks called up top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. The team made a surprising move as well, as they designated outfielder Alek Thomas for assignment. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen reportedly said that Thomas is already receiving trade interest, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.

The Diamondbacks are excited for Waldschmidt’s debut. Moving on from Thomas, an everyday center fielder, was a surprising decision, however. The 26-year-old has struggled at the plate in 2026, hitting just .181/.222/.340 across 100 plate appearances. Arizona is clearly ready to go in a new direction.

Thomas made his debut in 2022. While he is not a superstar, Thomas has made a significant impact on the ball club over the years. At only 26 years old, he is more than capable of helping a ball club. It is not surprising that he is receiving trade interest.

Arizona is 17-19 and in third place in the National League West standings as of this story’s writing. The D’Backs are 5.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West. While they probably will not compete for the division title, the team could potentially make a run at a National League Wild Card spot. They will have to be more consistent overall moving forward, though.

The Diamondbacks are set to begin a series against the New York Mets on Friday night. The Mets have struggled, so Arizona is looking to get the job done at home. First pitch for the first contest of the three-game series on Friday night is scheduled for 9:40 PM EST.