Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for a potentially big trade deadline. The team is expected to put the finishing touches to a hopeful World Series roster. The team is interested in adding not just starting pitching but also an impact outfield bat, and it may have its eyes set on a familiar name.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, stating they are “in” on the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award.
The Dodgers are in on Arozarena; he would be a great fit there.
MLB source on Dodgers interest in Arozarena
It is not the first time that the Dodgers and Arozarena have been linked this year during the winter, while the Dodgers were working on acquiring right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow, Arozarena’s name was brought up quite a few times, but the final deal ended up including Manuel Margot.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who like to stay ahead of the curve in their roster construction by typically trading away players approaching their final years of arbitration, head into this trade deadline one game over .500 and in fourth place in a competitive American League East. While their postseason hopes are not dead mathematically, they are more than four games back from the final wild-card spot.
Arozarena, who has earned $8.1 million this year, is under two more years of control via arbitration and would be a prime candidate to be moved by the Rays; what does hurt is that they would be selling low as it has not been the best season for the 2023 all-star.
So far this season, Arozarena has hit .209/.315/.392 with a .707 OPS and 103 OPS+, along with fifteen home runs. However, since June 1st, the righty has had a .906 OPS with seven home runs since looking more like the player who won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and earned an All-Star selection in 2023.
The Dodgers’ outfield has been lackluster this season, outside of Teoscar Hernández, who is putting up arguably the best “prove it” deal in recent memory. The outfield could use improvement, as Jason Heyward has spent multiple weeks on the injured list, James Outman was optioned to Triple-A twice, and Miguel Vargas, despite some better hitting this season, is a horrible left-fielder.
Andy Pages has been another anchor in the outfield manning down center field, but with him being a rookie, the Dodgers need some proven bats for the October push, and that explains their interest in not only Arozarena but also White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Mark Feinsand is the latest insider to link the Dodgers to Arozarena. David Vassegh and Jeff Passan have also mentioned the Dodgers’ interest.
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