Multiple clubs have reached out to the Rays about outfielder Randy Arozarena, per a report from Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Rays aren’t shopping him but it may be something they consider with their perpetual financial concerns.
That clubs would be interested in Arozarena is hardly a surprise. In 487 regular season games in his career thus far, he has hit 71 home runs and stolen 80 bases. His 25.4% strikeout rate is a bit high, but he pairs that with a solid 9.5% walk rate. Those numbers were even better in 2023, coming in at 23.9% and 12.2%. His career batting line of .265/.351/.451 translates to a wRC+ of 128, indicating he’s been 28% better than league average. The reviews on his glovework are mixed, with Defensive Runs Saved liking him better than Outs Above Average. But his work at the plate is excellent and he’s shown a knack for taking it up a notch when the lights are brightest, with strong performances in the MLB playoffs and the World Baseball Classic.
Beyond his abilities, Arozarena is surely appealing due to his contractual situation. He qualified for arbitration last offseason as a Super Two player, earning $4.15MM in 2023, meaning this winter will see him go through the arb process for the second out of four passes. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a salary of $9MM in 2024, with further raises to come in the following two seasons.
Even for a low-spending club like the Rays, $9MM isn’t going to break the bank. But since his salary will go up as his club control goes down, it’s fair to expect that the Rays will be looking to trade him at some point. The club often operates this way, flipping players as they get more expensive and closer to free agency, continually restocking the system with cheaper and more affordable players. Tommy Pham, Blake Snell and Austin Meadows are just some examples from recent years.
The Rays do appear to have a bit of a short-term budget crunch. Roster Resource estimates their 2024 payroll is currently at $126MM, whereas the data at Cot’s Baseball Contracts shows they’ve never previously gone beyond the $80MM range. President of baseball operations Erik Neander has said the club is open to running a higher payroll next year, but they may still have to make some cuts. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow has been a popular name in trade rumors, as he has one year and $25MM left on his deal. Manuel Margot has also been in trade talks, with one year and $12MM left on his guarantee.
Arozarena is set to make less than either of those two, but his extra years of control would give him the most trade value of the group. Those extra years mean that the Rays don’t have to move him now, but if they are going to move him eventually, his trade value is as high as it will be. His salary will only go up in future seasons as he gets closer to the open market, shrinking the amount of years the Rays can sell.
Despite the budgetary concerns, all indications are that the Rays are still trying to compete in 2024. Any trade they make would be about striking a balance between saving money but still keeping the talent on the roster as high as possible. An outfield without Arozarena in it could still have Margot, Josh Lowe and Jose Siri, with players like Luke Raley, Greg Jones, Jonathan Aranda and Harold Ramírez potentially in the mix as well. It’s also possible that the trade return could include another outfielder, cheaper than Arozarena and less established at the big league level.
But trading Arozarena could also allow them to perhaps add some starting pitching, which is a notable concern even if Glasnow doesn’t get moved. Each of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs underwent a significant elbow surgery this year, meaning each of them is set to miss most or all of the upcoming campaign. A trade of Arozarena could be one way of filling the rotation behind Glasnow, Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale. If Glasnow ends up getting traded, it would only increase the need for rotation help.
It’s unknown which clubs are calling the Rays or how open they would be to any offers on Arozarena. But given the rumors surrounding their players with bigger salaries, it seems as though a trade or two will be made. Ultimately, it will depend on exactly where they need the payroll to be and what kind of offers are coming in for Glasnow, Margot, Arozarena or perhaps players like Isaac Paredes or Brandon Lowe.
The Rays could also perhaps benefit from a free agent market that is considered light in terms of impact bats. Shohei Ohtani is on his own planet and set for a record-breaking contract of some kind, but beyond him, the best options include Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Teoscar Hernández, Jorge Soler and others. It’s expected by many in the baseball world that the Padres will flip Juan Soto due to their own financial issues. Players like Eloy Jiménez, Alex Verdugo and Christopher Morel could be on the trading block as well.
But Arozarena would be one of the most attractive trade candidates if he were truly available, given the combination of his skills, affordability and control. Passan’s report indicates that a small number of clubs have reached out to the Rays but more could come calling over the next few weeks.