After a dreadful April and May, Randy Arozarena is starting to turn a corner. He looks like his typical self in June, and with Tampa Bay open to exploring trades, a few teams will come calling. 25 of the 30 teams are in the hunt for a postseason position as plenty of scenarios can play out right up until July 30.
With the trade deadline less than five weeks away, Jim Bowden of The Athletic surveyed more than 35 baseball executives. Presidents of baseball operations, general managers and assistant managers predicted which starters, relievers and hitters will likely be dealt.
Randy Arozarena Trade Rumors Are Heating Up
Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is seen as the most likely position player to be traded. Behind Chisholm is Arozerna, who batted .191 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases in the first half of the season. In June, Arozarena is posting a .292/.434/.462 slash line this month. His 29.3 percent strikeout rate from March and April has improved to 19.3 percent. However, his 8.9 percent walk clip from the start of the season is up to 13.3 percent. From 2021-23, the outfielder has hit 20 or more home runs and stolen more than 20 bases.
The Rays have control over Arozarena through the 2026 season and he’s making $8.1 million this year. Bowden did mention that Arozarena will be more expensive in his final two years of salary arbitration. He’s represented by the Boras Corporation and it’s unlikely he will sign a long-term contract with the Rays. That alone makes sense as to why the Rays should trade him. One particular team in the National League West will certainly be eyeing Arozarena.
Los Angeles Dodgers Are a Good Match for Arozarena
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman could turn to his old stomping grounds in Tampa Bay. ESPN’s Jeff Passan laid out a scenario where the Dodgers keep Mookie Betts at shortstop and trade for Arozarena instead. Passan lists the Dodgers as a good match for the All-Star outfielder, believing that heading to Southern California will help Arozarena out of the rut he began the season with. He would join a deep lineup with Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.
Acquiring Arozarena would be beneficial for the Dodgers who are looking to get over the hump. Arozarena has been a juggernaut in the postseason, hitting .336 with 11 home runs, 17 RBI and 23 runs scored in 33 games. He broke two MLB records in the 2020 postseason for most home runs (10) and hits (29).
Main Photo: © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
