News

Mariners Acquire Randy Arozarena in Blockbuster Deal with Tampa Bay Rays

Mariners Acquire Randy Arozarena in Blockbuster Deal with Tampa Bay Rays

The Mariners have added one of the strongest bats available on the trade market in an attempt to boost their offensively devoid lineup. Seattle Sports posted on X, “”In desperate need of offensive help to bolster their listless lineup, the Mariners acquired one of the best bats on the trade market, acquiring Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays late Thursday night. ” thus confirming the above.

Source:

Randy Arozarena, a powerful left fielder from the Tampa Bay Rays, was purchased by the Mariners late on Thursday night for two minor leaguers and a player who would be revealed later, major league sources informed The Times.

Arozarena, 29, who started for the AL as a left fielder in the MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park the previous year, has a $8.1 million deal through this season and is due for arbitration in each of the following two years.

The Rays will get right-hand pitcher Brody Hopkins, minor-league prospect Aidan Smith, and an unnamed player in return.

Arozarena has had trouble performing to the level he set the previous two seasons, including career lows in slugging, OBP, OPS, and batting average. He is taking a batting position.  211 with 15 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 19 doubles.

The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, Arozarena, had a terrible start to the season and his overall performance has decreased. In 404 plate appearances, he has a.213 batting average, a.717 OPS, 15 home runs, 36 RBI, and 16 steals. This season, he has the lowest wRC+ of his career (110 wRC+), significantly below his career average of 125 (normal being 100).

But since late May, he has improved significantly, registering a.283 average, seven home runs, thirteen doubles, a.904 OPS, and a 161 wRC+. He walks 12% of the time and strikes out 19.6% of the bats in his previous 184 plate appearances.

In many offensive measures, the Mariners are at or near the bottom of the MLB; they are particularly poor in batting average (.216) and strikeout rate (28%).