The Seattle Mariners have parted ways with 26-year-old outfielder Rhylan Thomas, and in a classic twist of divisional rivalry, the Houston Astros have quickly scooped him up off waivers.

The move, announced by the Mariners on Saturday, comes after Thomas was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. The Astros pounced on the opportunity, adding the left-handed bat to their organization.

Thomas has limited big-league experience, appearing in just three MLB games—all in 2025. During that brief stint, he went 1-for-8 (.125) with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. A former 11th-round pick by the New York Mets in the 2022 MLB Draft out of USC, Thomas has spent the 2026 season with Triple-A Tacoma, where he’s hitting .260 with three doubles, two home runs, and six stolen bases over 31 games.

While his career minor-league OPS of .756 suggests solid but unspectacular production, Thomas is likely to serve as organizational depth for Houston rather than an immediate MLB solution. Still, there’s an intriguing narrative here: a player discarded by one division rival only to land with another, adding a layer of drama to an already heated AL West rivalry.

For Mariners fans, losing a young player to the Astros stings a little more—even if Thomas’s path to the big leagues remains uncertain. For Houston, it’s a low-risk move that could pay off down the line.