The first significant bombshell of the 2024 MLB trade deadline has fallen, with former Rookie of the Year and World Series hero Randy Arozarena being traded to the rather surprising Seattle Mariners for two prospects and a player to be named later. What does this move signify for both teams going into the trade deadline and beyond?
Seattle Mariners
Let’s start with the Mariners, who are currently 53-51, which is good for second place in the American League West, sitting a game behind the leading Houston Astros. This team was in first place for a long time but has now fallen to second due to a lack of poor offense, especially in the outfield. Robles is hitting .287 but has no pop in his bat, only producing one HR in 77 plate appearances. Luke Raley is only hitting .229 in 266 at-bats, and Julio Rodriguez is in a down year, only hitting .263, and is currently on the injured list. Oh, and don’t forget about Mitch Haniger, who, in his reunion tour, is hitting .207 in 275 at-bats.
This outfield desperately needed an upgrade and someone who brings star power to an offense that’s only known for Julio Rodriguez. Some may look at that stat line and see the .217 batting average, but that doesn’t speak the story.
His slow star doesn’t mean anything as Randy is back to his usual self, and for a Mainers team that has him and Julio in that outfield for years to come puts them in a much better position to compete with the relentless Astros for the division crown and at worst guarantees a spot in the playoffs which if you didn’t know is where a mf named Randy tends to shine.
Oh and I did I mentioned you got him for virtually nothing?
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are currently 52-51, sitting 9.5 games behind in the rather tough American League East while being four games out of the wild card are practically waving the white flag on the 2024 season by trading their face of the franchise, the cowboy booted man who got the Rays to the World Series for the second time ever—the man who was the most loved in Tampa Bay since Evan Longoria for two prospects.
Aidan Smith is a 20-year-old right-handed Outfielder, the Mariner's No. 12 ranked prospect with a 2027 ETA. So far this year in low A Modesto, he’s hit .284 in 296 at-bats with nine home runs and 42 RBIs
If he puts it all together, he's a five-toolsy player with a relatively good swing and evolving defense in center. If the Rays can steady his potential, this could be a really good move.
Brody Hopkins is a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, the Mariner's No. 22 ranked prospect with a 2026 ETA. He was also in low A Modesto, where in 18 games (all starts), he threw 83.2 innings pitched, striking out 90 batters while walking 40 to the tune of a 2.07 ERA. He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, a wipeout slider against righties, and a curveball that gives him good success. He also throws a change-up and cutter, but they aren’t on the level of the fastball, slider, and curve.
He’s an athlete with a deep arsenal, if the Rays know how to do something it’s developing pitchers so this pickup can quickly become a mid level rotational piece down the line.
Overall this isn’t a big of a fleece as people are making it. Yes, no one’s ever heard of these prospects, and Randy Arozarena is a star. We all know the Rays weren’t going to give him the money he deserves, so trade him to a team that’s competing for a wild card spot (which the Rays aren’t necessarily doing), and Seattle gives up two prospects that aren’t in their future plans to a team like the Rays who develops prospects better than any other team. It’s a win for the Mariners right now, but in a few years, people may look back on this trade differently.
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