Randy Arozarena Traded To Seattle Mariners

Randy Arozarena Traded To Seattle Mariners

Randy Arozarena is the match that will set the MLB trade deadline alight! The Rays outfielder is being moved to the Seattle Mariners for a package containing prospects. After letting their division lead slip to the Houston Astros in recent weeks Jerry Dipoto is no longer waiting. This is a major offensive add for a team that desperately needs it. The news was first reported by Francys Romero and later confirmed by Ken Rosenthal:

Per Jeff Passan, Tampa will acquire outfielder Aidan Smith and right-handed pitcher Brody Hopkins with a PTBNL. After becoming a postseason star in their run to the 2020 World Series, the Cuban outfielder became a model of consistency for the Rays. He’s hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past three full seasons. To boot he is primed to do it again with 15 big flies at the time of writing. He currently sports a slash line of .213/.319/.398 but that should move closer to what we expect now that he’s on a playoff contender.

Here Comes The Cavalry

In four-and-a-half seasons with Tampa, he has put together a .786 OPS and 123 OPS+. For a team stacked with a young and deep rotation, run production has been Seattle’s Achilles Heel. In particular, star outfielder Julio Rodriguez has struggled after an exhilarating 2023 campaign and currently sits on the IL. To put it in perspective, only one regular (Cal Raleigh) in the Mariners lineup has an OPS over .700. They’ve had to make tough decisions like cutting ties with former All-Star Ty France due to his offensive woes.

They had a ten game lead in the AL West back on June 18th and just lost that on July 23rd. It’s hard not to like this deal for Dipoto and company based solely that it provides some just and a shot in the arm for this group. With preseason favorites like the Yankees and Orioles struggling mightily over the last six weeks it’s no hyperbole to say the pennant race is wide open. When fully healthy the expectation is now Seattle will turn a corner and make the Astros fight tooth and nail for another division crown. Randy slots into the middle of that lineup immediately and needs to produce. It may not be the right move in hindsight but something had to be done. They could even be in the mix for an infielder between now and next week.

End Of The Road For Rays

2024 just cannot go right for this Tampa team. Despite always winning on the margins and putting out a competitive team, their magic has faded out in a way. At 51-51, they are fourth in the uber competitive AL East and four games out of the last Wild Card spot (funny enough Seattle is 3.5). Their downfall has very clearly been starting pitching (outside of Taj Bradley). While the lineup has produced to an extent they just have not been able to win games because of their rotation. Short starts and working from behind always results in an overtaxed bullpen and growing frustration.

Moving Arozarena out with another two years of control signals that Kevin Cash and company will fall into the selling category. Names like Pete Fairbanks, Yandy Diaz, and even Isaac Parades are now fully fledged trade candidates. Even though they presumably are waving the white flag, they will always find a way to be back.

Resetting the deck and adding to the farm means another version of this team is not too far around the corner. They will in all likelihood call up more prospects to see what they have for the long-term. If Erik Neander wants to he could seriously beef up his base of prospects. He may not want to take a step back that far but lots of teams will want what they have.

Randy Arozarena is just one of many names on the move over the next couple of days. Get ready for a wild deadline!

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