Dodgers acquire Alek Thomas from Diamondbacks

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (5) hits a double against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at Citizens Bank Park.

At first glance, it’s the kind of under-the-radar move that barely nudges the championship odds for a roster already stacked with stars. But inside the Dodgers’ front office, this is precisely the type of transaction that has long defined the margins of their success: buy low on premium athleticism, trust the player development machine, and see if untapped upside still exists.

Thomas, 26, arrives with a resume that is equal parts intriguing and frustrating. A former second-round pick and once one of baseball’s more highly regarded prospects, he built his reputation on elite defense in center field, explosive closing speed and instincts that evaluators believed would keep him in the middle of the diamond for a decade. The bat, however, never fully caught up.

Before Arizona designated him for assignment last week, Thomas was hitting just .181 with a .563 OPS through 28 games this season. Across parts of five major league seasons, he owns a career slash line of .230/.273/.361 with 31 home runs and a .634 OPS.

And yet, there are reasons the Dodgers believe there may still be something here.

Thomas remains a plus defender in center field and an above-average runner, tools that carry value even when the offense sputters. He also has one minor league option remaining, giving the Dodgers flexibility to send him to Triple-A Oklahoma City without exposing him to waivers again.

That flexibility matters.

With Andy Pages entrenched in center field and a veteran corner mix already in place, Thomas is unlikely to step immediately into an everyday role. More realistically, he profiles as organizational depth with upside, a left-handed hitting defensive specialist the Dodgers can stash in Oklahoma City while trying to unlock offensive adjustments behind the scenes.

Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) hits a two RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) hits a two RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium.

And if there is one organization players around the league believe can resurrect a stalled offensive profile, it’s this one.

The Dodgers have spent the better part of a decade identifying players with one or two elite carrying tools and helping them optimize the rest. Sometimes it’s a swing change. Sometimes it’s a plate-discipline overhaul. Sometimes it’s simply a cleaner role and less pressure.

Whether this becomes anything more than a depth move will depend on whether the Dodgers can do what Arizona could not: find enough offense to make the glove matter every day.