As the MLB trade deadline nears, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain discussed potential trade targets with ESPN reporter Buster Olney. Olney suggested that while some targets may not land with the Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena remains a strong possibility.
“I do think that if someone comes in and wants to get Arozarena and is willing to pay the price, they will move him because that’s what they do. They turn over their roster, they always try to stay one step ahead of their payroll challenges… I do think that they will listen to other teams that will talk about Randy.”
Last season, Arozarena was named to the American League All-Star team for the first time and was the 2021 American League Rookie of the Year.
Although Arozarena struggled early in the season, posting a slash line of .202/.309/.362 with 93 strikeouts and 42 walks, he has shown improvement in recent months, averaging .291 in June and .244 in July. He has accumulated 12 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 118 total bases across 326 plate appearances.
Adding Arozarena could address a key issue for the Dodgers by providing reliability at the bottom of the lineup. He set the MLB record for most home runs in a postseason with 10 in 2020.
Arozarena would also strengthen the Dodgers’ outfield, which has faced challenges this season due to the absence of Jason Heyward and the inconsistent performance of Chris Taylor and James Outman. Arozarena is currently on a one-year $8.1 million contract.
“The Rays, even when they’re at their best, they’re always managing payroll. And we know that the Dodgers and the Rays can make trades. They speak the same language — through the years that has been the case.”
The Dodgers and Rays have a history of trades, with the most recent being the acquisition of starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot for Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca in December. Since joining the Dodgers, Glasnow has made his first MLB All-Star team and ranks third in strikeouts among all MLB pitchers (143).