The Tampa Bay Rays are descending on the Pacific Northwest for a huge series against the Seattle Mariners. The Rays have executed a lot of trades with Seattle recently, but the Randy Arozarena acquisition stands out as the biggest. The Rays traded a player in his prime to a club that desperately needed a big bat. While it’s still too early to judge the returns on this trade, do the Rays miss this guy, or are they better off?
Retrospective: Rays Trade Arozarena to Mariners in Blockbuster 2024 Trade
The Rays were 52-51 at the trade deadline last summer and seemingly headed toward the dreaded mediocrity status. The franchise wanted to look to the future, and they moved Arozarena for a return of Aidan Smith and Brody Hopkins. The Rays were struggling for offense, and the Mariners were banking on Arozarena returning to his 2021 Rookie of the Year or 2023 All-Star form. Ultimately, the Mariners missed the playoffs last season, but they knew that he was under control for two additional seasons.
Arozarena Stars for the Rays
Arozarena, 30, may go down as the best and maybe worst trade the franchise will end up making. He and first baseman Jose Martinez were both acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in January 2020 in exchange for left-hander Matthew Liberatore and catcher Edgardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez never made it to the major leagues, and Liberatore is only now beginning to deliver on his hyped prospect status. The Rays prospered as Arozarena posted an absolute heater in the playoffs that season. When it mattered most, Arozarena posted a .377 average, 10 home runs, 14 RBI, and 19 runs scored. He won ALCS MVP honors behind a stout .321 with four home runs, six RBIs in only seven games.
The legend of Randy Arozarena continues pic.twitter.com/dVkHJ6VWYf
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 26, 2020
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It was a fantastic showing that would continue beyond the Rays’ crushing World Series loss in 2020. He would showcase plenty of speed (career-high 32 stolen bases in 2022) and continue to display 20+ home run power. Plus, he nearly edged out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby. A star for Team Mexico in the 2023 WBC, he even had his own cheering section affectionately known as “Randy Land” in the Tropicana Field outfield. This was a classic example of Rays fans falling in love with a player who they felt was their own.
What Did The Rays Get Back?
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, as the Rays saw an opportunity to trade a player. Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander tried to put it into context when he said, “For us, there are no guarantees of players developing into the kind of impactful contributors Randy and Isaac were. You never take that for granted. In the particulars of our situation, you have to make some difficult decisions to try to position yourselves to grow the next group.”
Smith and Hopkins were listed as the No. 5 and No. 3 Rays prospects by MLB.com for 2025. Hopkins was a two-way player in college, and evaluators seem to believe his command issues could be holding him back. His 47 walks this season are six shy of outpacing the total amount he handed out last season. The Rays will certainly take their time with the 23-year-old, whose ETA isn’t until 2026. Smith is still only 21 years old at Double-A, and there is plenty of time for him to find his footing. He is playing solely in center field this season, and MLB.com says, “he has a plus arm and plenty of speed to handle the position.” A .994 fielding percentage certainly speaks highly of his skill set, and the Rays should have room for him in the outfield grass once he is ready.
The Last Word
The biggest part of this trade that will continue to receive scrutiny and haunt the Rays is the production Arozarena has posted in a Mariners uniform. How come that’s not occurring on the Rays? This type of player doesn’t grow on trees, and the Rays let him go. It’s hard to be a fan of a club that routinely trades away fan favorites at a moment’s notice. The young players may turn into something, but the team will have to be patient with their development. Rays fans are surely rooting for Arozarena to help Seattle reach the playoffs, except this weekend when Wild Card positioning is at stake.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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