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Dodgers, Diamondbacks trade grades for Alek Thomas deal
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- Dodgers, Diamondbacks trade grades for Alek Thomas deal
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The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Alek Thomas in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The deal was announced days after Thomas was designated for assignment . LA traded outfield prospect Jose Requena to Arizona in return. The Dodgers also announced that outfielder Michael Siani was designated for assignment.
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It will not be the most discussed trade of the season, but it is a deal that should not be overlooked either. Thomas can be an impactful player at the MLB level.
Dodgers acquire Alek Thomas
Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Thomas, 26-year-old outfielder, has been an everyday centerfielder with the Diamondbacks over the years. He played in Arizona from 2022-2026.
He has never been a tremendous offensive player in MLB, but Thomas' 2026 numbers have been far from ideal. He was hitting just .181/.222/.340 before ultimately getting designated for assignment.
For the Dodgers, the move gives them more outfield depth behind stars such as Kyle Tucker , Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages . He could end up playing a role in the big leagues down the road. According to Jack Harris of the California Post, Thomas is expected to begin his Dodgers career in the minor leagues.
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Having extra depth never hurts. The ball club had to surrender a prospect, but the Dodgers have always valued having players who can make an impact in versatile roles.
Diamondbacks add an intriguing prospect
The Diamondbacks' decision to designate Thomas for assignment was surprising. His offensive numbers were down, but moving on from a 26-year-old who had impacted the team over the years was surprising. Arizona was able to receive a prospect in return for Thomas, though.
Requena is a 17-year-old outfielder who signed with the Dodgers during the offseason. He landed a minor league deal with the ball club. The Dodgers clearly saw potential, but now Requena is going to Arizona.
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He is likely a few years away from realistically reaching the big leagues. However, the Diamondbacks are likely content with simply receiving a player in return. Players who are designated for assignment are sometimes traded for cash considerations. Other times they pass through waivers.
Thomas was reportedly receiving trade interest from multiple teams. In the end, he ended up getting traded to Los Angeles . The Dodgers probably had the best trade offer for Thomas.
The D'Backs may miss Thomas, but they were clearly prepared to move in a new direction.
Final trade grades for Dodgers, Diamondbacks
It is difficult to argue against the trade for either team. The Dodgers only gave up one prospect for an outfielder with a proven track record at the big league level. Meanwhile, Arizona moves on from a struggling outfielder and they were able to receive a prospect in return.
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Sure, this trade will not make or break either roster. Los Angeles is a good baseball team with or without Thomas. However, acquiring him is still an understandable decision.
Alek Thomas could realistically help the Dodgers as the team looks to make a run at a third consecutive championship.
Dodgers trade grade: A-
Diamondbacks trade grade: A-
Related: MLB value stars making an elite impact on bargain deals in 2026
Related: ClutchPoints 2026 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 12: The mediocre American League
