Rays OF Randy Arozarena's Top 10 Landing Spots amid MLB Trade Rumors

Is Randy Arozarena merely having fun? Or is he trying to tell us something?

Such questions were in the air on social media on Tuesday after the 2021 American League Rookie of the Year and 2023 All-Star posted a photo of himself standing next to the Los Angeles Dodgers' new $700 million man, Shohei Ohtani.

I'll venture a guess that Arozarena was just having fun, but it's not as if he hasn't been involved in trade rumors. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that teams are asking, with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times subsequently reporting that the Rays are listening.

So, let's use all this as a jumping-off point to discuss Arozarena's trade value before speculating on potential landing spots for him.

Nobody will soon forget when "Randy Arozarena" became a household name.

He was a semi-obscure up-and-comer when the Rays began their playoff run in 2020, but not for long. Albeit with the help of extra games, he set postseason records for hits, total bases and home runs amid a run that ended in Game 6 of the World Series.

The 28-year-old has lived up to the hype since then. He's one of only three players to top 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in each of the last three seasons, all while posting a solidly above average 124 OPS+. The Cuba native also further added to his big game credentials with a 1.507 OPS for Mexico in six appearances in this year's World Baseball Classic.

As for why the Rays would want to trade a guy like this, it's simple: their 2024 payroll is projected to stretch well beyond their established limits, and his projected $9 million salary is part of the problem. Arozarena won't hit free agency until after the 2026 season.

The fact that this is public knowledge isn't great for the Rays' leverage in trade talks, but their situation is helped by scarcity. There just aren't many impact hitters readily available in the wake of Ohtani's signing and the trade of Juan Soto.

Since the Rays aren't rebuilding following a 99-win season, one assumes they'll only trade Arozarena for help they can use right now. They have any number of needs they could look to fill, but the big ones are pitching, catching and maybe a shortstop, plus an outfielder who could step into Arozarena's shoes.

With all this in mind, let's dig into and rank 10 hypothetical landing spots for Arozarena. And to spice things up, let's pitch some actual trades along the way.

Note: All left field WAR courtesy of Baseball Reference. Projected 2024 left fielders courtesy of RosterResource at FanGaphs. Farm system and prospect rankings by B/R's Joel Reuter.

2023 Left Field WAR: 2.0 (T-15th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Tyler O'Neill

True, the Red Sox filled their need for a left fielder when they acquired two-time Gold Glover and erstwhile 34-homer slugger Tyler O'Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals.

They still need a right-handed bat, however. Justin Turner and Adam Duvall were the best they had in 2023. Both are now free agents and likely in line for more than the $15.3 million that the Red Sox paid the two of them this year.

Because Arozarena would have to play right field in deference to O'Neill, he'd be an imperfect fit in Boston in at least one way. But beyond just his right-handed thump, the Red Sox frankly need the excitement Arozarena brings to the table. They've been a bit dull of late.

Trade Proposal: Boston Red Sox get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Kutter Crawford, SS/CF Ceddanne Rafaela

This isn't a bad deal for the Rays, who would get a talented righty swingman and the third-ranked prospect in the No. 3 system in MLB. But in case you're thinking it, it's true that two AL East rivals pulling off such a big swap is probably unlikely to actually happen.

2023 Left Field WAR: 2.8 (8th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Nathan Lukes

So, the Blue Jays missed out on Ohtani. Now what?

The answer should be a full-court press on other options, including the multiple hitters they want to add. Left field is an especially prime target for a new addition, as the 29-year-old Lukes has only 31 unspectacular plate appearances to show for his MLB career.

The catch with Arozarena is that the Blue Jays need left-handed bats more, but not pursuing him on those grounds would be letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. The idea should be to get productive hitters, period, and he's certainly one of those.

Trade Proposal: Toronto Blue Jays get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Alek Manoah, SS Orelvis Martinez, LHP Brandon Barriera

Manoah, who was an All-Star and Cy Young finalist in 2022, would be a huge upside play for the Rays after a lost 2023 season. Martinez and Barriera, meanwhile, are Toronto's second- and fourth-ranked prospects. Like with the Boston pitch, however, it's hard to imagine two AL East rivals actually pulling off such a headline-grabbing deal.

2023 Left Field WAR: 2.1 (14th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: DJ Stewart

Honestly, it wouldn't be the worst idea if the Mets moved ahead with Stewart as their everyday left fielder.

The former first-round pick made the most of the shot the Mets gave him this year, with his 58 appearances yielding 11 home runs and a solid .840 OPS. And some of his contact metrics (i.e., his barrel rate) back it all up.

Then again, Stewart is also a 30-year-old on whom the "journeyman" label more or less fits. Arozarena would be a substantial upgrade for a lineup that, even as is, is probably underrated going into 2024.

Trade Proposal: New York Mets get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get OF Drew Gilbert, C Kevin Parada

Gilbert and Parada are only the No. 4 and No. 6 prospects in the Mets' system, but said system is the fourth-best in all of MLB. Yet that's also the problem with this concept, as the Mets arguably shouldn't be in a mood to subtract from their system while it's on an upswing amid a moment of relative uncertainty at the major league level.

2023 Left Field WAR: 2.1 (T-12th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Evan Carter

Indeed, the last thing Cardinals fans want to imagine is Arozarena and Adolis García sharing the same outfield after having already found success individually away from St. Louis.

It's not exactly a likely possibility, but it's nothing if not a fun one. The Rangers have simply been too quiet since winning the World Series, so what better way to make some noise than by super-charging an already outstanding lineup with an Arozarena trade?

Sure, they already have Carter in left field and he's, uh, kind of awesome. But he's also capable of playing center, where he could supplant the light-hitting Leody Taveras in the event of an Arozarena trade.

Trade Proposal: Texas Rangers get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Brock Porter, RHP Owen White

Trading with the Rangers stands to be advantageous for the Rays on account of the former's pitching depth. And in this case, the Rays would get the No. 3 and No. 5 talents from MLB's No. 5 system. The catch is that the Rangers should want to hold on to their arms with Max Scherzer, Andrew Heaney and maybe Nathan Eovaldi due for free agency after 2024.

2023 Left Field WAR: 1.4 (18th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Brandon Marsh

And now for another for the "Hey, It's a Fun Idea" file.

Yeah, just imagine Arozarena in the same lineup as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos. Even more simply, just imagine this Phillies team with yet another October legend in its midst. Such a team would surely be capable of better things than the current one.

For his part, Marsh is hardly a bad option in left field. But he can just as easily play center, either in an everyday capacity or in a platoon with the righty-swinging Johan Rojas.

Trade Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Mick Abel, RHP Griff McGarry

Abel and McGarry are the Phillies' second- and fifth-best prospects, with Abel also ranking No. 23 for all of MLB. But while this a better package than the Texas one, the Phillies are in a similar position in that Zack Wheeler's looming post-2024 free agency is at least one excuse to hoard arms.

2023 Left Field WAR: 0.5 (25th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Michael Conforto

They may not have Ohtani in the designated hitter slot, but at least the Giants' outfield is looking better after a deal with Korean star Jung Hoo Lee on Tuesday.

Yet it could be better still, if for no other reason than the Giants just plain need more offense after finishing second-to-last in the National League in scoring. To this end, adding Arozarena's right-handed pop would be worth shifting Conforto to right field.

The other advantage in pursuing a trade for Arozarena is that he wouldn't have the power to say no to the Giants. It's a hint they should take after getting spurned by so many free agent sluggers in recent years, Ohtani included.

Trade Proposal: San Francisco Giants get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get OF Luis Matos, LHP Carson Whisenhunt

Matos isn't a prospect anymore, but he's still only 21 and he posted a .945 OPS in the high minors this year. Whisenhunt, meanwhile, is the Giants' No. 3 prospect and the No. 74 prospect for all of MLB. It's thus a solid deal for the Rays, but anyone who's skeptical about whether the Giants should be trading prospects after an 83-loss season has a point.

2023 Left Field WAR: 1.4 (19th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Chris Taylor

By the time you read this, the Dodgers may have already pulled off a trade with the Rays centered on Tyler Glasnow. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is among those who are on it:

If so, Arozarena's kinda-sorta-not-really promise of him and Ohtani joining forces will probably be kaput. If the Dodgers are going to trade for him, surely it wouldn't be in a separate deal, right?

But let's indulge ourselves for now. After all, Taylor is more of a utility guy than an everyday outfielder. And if anything is better than a trio of Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, it's an Ohtani-Betts-Freeman-Arozarena foursome.

Trade Proposal: Los Angeles Dodgers get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get C Dalton Rushing, RHP Nick Frasso

Rushing and Frasso are the Dodgers' No. 1 and No. 3 prospects, as well as the No. 54 and No. 71 prospects in MLB. Getting both would therefore be a nice haul for the Rays. Perhaps the only catch, then, is that the Dodgers will still need to be all-in on using their resources to acquire pitching even if they do land Glasnow. Another bat is more of a nice to have.

2023 Left Field WAR: 0.1 (T-26th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Bryan De La Cruz

The Marlins may have made the playoffs this year, but they still finished last in the NL in scoring even with Jorge Soler and his 36 home runs in the middle of their lineup.

With Soler now a free agent and the club's payroll projected just $12 million south of where it ended this season, the trade market may be the Marlins' best hope of adding an impact bat.

To this end, Arozarena would be an easy upgrade over De La Cruz in left. And the Marlins need his speed just as much as his power, as they ranked 13th in the NL for stolen bases compared to 10th for home runs this year.

Trade Proposal: Miami Marlins get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Max Meyer

What the Marlins do have in ample supply is pitching, so it's no surprise that they're listening to offers on starters. Cabrera is perhaps the most expendable of the bunch, but the Rays could unlock his upside much like they did with Glasnow. Meyer would be more of a risk coming off Tommy John surgery, but he was previously a top-100 guy and he's still only 24.

2023 Left Field WAR: 5.1 (1st)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Cal Mitchell

The Padres were better off than any other team in left field this year, but that was thanks to Soto and...well, he's gone now.

That also goes for Trent Grisham, of course, which leaves Fernando Tatis Jr. as the only sure thing in San Diego's outfield. At least one new addition is needed, and the Padres would do well to put it in left field rather than trust Mitchell with the job.

Arozarena is a natural fit in this regard, and the Padres wouldn't have to worry so much about him taking up all their newfound payroll space. He's slated to make less than a third of what Soto will earn in 2024.

Trade Proposal: San Diego Padres get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get LHP Robby Snelling, RHP Jairo Iriarte

Though San Diego's system is only the 11th-best in MLB, Snelling (No. 31) and Iriarte (No. 99) are but two of six top 100 prospects therewithin. The catch for the Rays is that the former only turns 20 on Dec. 19, but he's moving fast. He made it to Double-A this season in the process of becoming Baseball America's Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

2023 Left Field WAR: 1.8 (17th)

2024 Projected Left Fielder: Cade Marlowe

OK, enough speculating. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Mariners and Rays line up as trading partners and Arozarena may be of interest to the former:

The Mariners wouldn't need a left fielder if they hadn't traded Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta, but that's where they are right now. Arozarena would have been a substantial upgrade even on Kelenic in 2023, much less Marlowe in 2024.

One caveat is that Arozarena is not the kind of high-contact hitter the Mariners are seeking. But in addition to replacing some of the power Seattle has lost in trades of Kelenic and Eugenio Suárez and in Teoscar Hernández's free agency, he would also add to their team speed.

Trade Proposal: Seattle Mariners get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get OF Gabriel Gonzalez

As for why the Mariners and Rays line up as trading partners, the former has the arms that the latter needs. As an elite control artist with good stuff, Miller would be a big prize in this respect. The 19-year-old Gonzalez would be more of a long-game play for the Rays, albeit one with legit upside as the No. 3 prospect in Seattle's ninth-ranked system.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.