The Seattle Mariners are giving up on a former New York Mets prospect traded back in 2024. After putting in a waiver claim on lefty reliever Jose Suarez, they cleared space on the 40-man roster by DFA’ing Rhylan Thomas.
Thomas was the lone prospect traded to Seattle in 2024 in exchange for Ryne Stanek. A trade that worked out “well” only because Stanek figured things out in the postseason, Thomas exploded in his first two years in Triple-A for the Mariners.
He hit .322 in the final two months in 2024 and .325 in a full Triple-A season in 2025. A .260 batting average this year and .321 batting average overall in Triple-A, the Mets now have a chance to bring him back if for no other reason to bring in some more youthful depth to a currently depleted outfield depth chart.
Where Rhylan Thomas can help the Mets depth chart
A left-handed hitting center fielder, Thomas probably isn’t going to crack the Mets roster immediately. But the depth can’t hurt. 139 career walks in the minors versus 126 strikeouts, Thomas is a high-contact bat with some good speed. He stole 35 bases in Triple-A last year.
At 26, Thomas is at the age where 3 MLB games and 10 plate appearances is a bit too low to have much patience. Thomas is a “he is what he is” type of player. Low power, good speed, and not an exceptional defender, probably more of a fit in a corner spot, we can understand why the Mariners might not be super-eager to let him sit on their 40-man roster when they’re trying to salvage the season after a 16-18 start.
As the worst team in MLB, the Mets get first dibs on anyone on the waiver wire. That’s the lone benefit. However, Thomas’ age could always mean he’s more of a trade candidate than someone who’ll slip through the waiver wire. It doesn't hurt that he's capable of playing center field, a spot where you can excuse some flaws as long as the defense is competent.
The Mets have avoided calling up righty-hitting Nick Morabito this year, someone with shared qualities that Thomas can provide. A.J. Ewing is now in Triple-A and feels like he could be a sooner-than-later Hail Mary in center field if needed.
The Mets, inconvenientally, now have only two position players in the minors on the 40-man roster, Morabito and catcher Hayden Senger. Stealing Thomas back for nothing would be the best-case scenario. Considering he was traded by David Stearns previously, it’s probably about the only way he comes back.
As of Sunday afternoon, the 40-man roster is full for the Mets. Candidates who could get shifted to the 60-day IL would be the likeliest way to clear a spot. The thing with Thomas is that even if he was to return to the Mets as a minor league depth piece he'd be on a short leash.
