The Philadelphia Phillies and Athletics quietly closed out the 2026 MLB trade deadline with a last-minute swap that sent former top outfield prospect Colby Thomas to the Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson.
According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the deal came together in the final moments before the 6 p.m. ET deadline, marking Philadelphia’s fourth transaction of a busy day . Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski had been working the phones in search of additional starting pitching and bullpen help but ultimately ran out of time, settling for a minor-league trade to bolster organizational outfield depth .
Thomas, 25, was ranked as high as the Athletics’ No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline in 2025 . The former third-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft showed tremendous promise in the minor leagues, posting a .309 average with a .971 OPS at Triple-A Las Vegas last season .
However, his production has yet to translate at the Major League level. Over 104 games and 253 at-bats across parts of two seasons, Thomas has slashed just .214/.252/.376 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs . This season, he struggled to a .202 batting average with a .569 OPS in 55 games, leading the A’s to option him to Triple-A on July 31 .
Scouting reports highlight Thomas’ raw power and ability to drive the ball to all fields with force, though his selectivity at the plate remains a work in progress . He profiles as a corner outfielder with decent speed and defensive versatility, though he has primarily played the corners throughout his minor-league career .
“Thomas’s raw power that scouts raved about during his college days has translated to the professional ranks,” reads an MLB.com scouting report. “His compact swing allows him to drive the ball to all fields with some serious force” .
In exchange, the Athletics acquired Seth Johnson, 27, a former first-round pick (No. 40 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 . Johnson has seen big-league time with Philadelphia in each of the past three seasons, posting a 5.51 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 14 walks in 16 1/3 innings this year .
Despite his MLB struggles, Johnson has been effective in the minors, recording a 2.17 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 29 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season . He brings a fastball that sits 97-98 mph along with a wipeout slider that generates swing-and-miss .
The Phillies had already made significant moves earlier in the day, acquiring second baseman Luis Arraez and reliever Caleb Kilian from the Giants, as well as Brooks Raley from the Mets . Philadelphia entered the deadline seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder, and Thomas fits that profile despite his struggles .
However, some analysts view the deal as underwhelming given Philadelphia’s postseason aspirations. “Thomas is surely not the kind of right-handed hitting outfield addition that Phillies fans were hoping to see Dave Dombrowski make this summer,” Sporting News noted .
For the Athletics, the trade represented their lone move of the deadline . Sitting at 45-67 and in fourth place in the AL West, the A’s were largely quiet, in part due to injuries to key trade pieces — most notably All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers, who suffered a torn meniscus that required surgery .
“We obviously have underperformed,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “We haven’t succeeded this year the way we wanted to. That doesn’t mean that this same group can’t continue to grow and develop and be what we expect the next couple of seasons” .
Thomas remains under club control through 2031 and has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley . For the Phillies, the deal represents a low-cost acquisition of a player who, despite his MLB struggles, has demonstrated considerable potential in the minors. For the Athletics, Johnson could slot into a bullpen that has struggled this season, providing a hard-throwing arm with years of control remaining .
Both organizations are betting on a change of scenery to unlock the talent that made each player a highly regarded prospect.
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