One of many first huge booms of the 2024 commerce deadline occurred late Thursday night.
Determined for an influence bat, the Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays in alternate for outfield prospect Aidan Smith, pitching prospect Brody Hopkins and a participant to be named later.
After a gradual begin to the 2024 season that noticed him slash .178/.291/.326 with 9 house runs and 22 RBI over his first 70 video games, Arozarena has returned to type over his final 30 video games, posting a .287/.378/.546 slash line with six house runs and 15 RBI.
With the most effective pitching employees ERA within the MLB at 3.41, the Mariners are within the backside three within the MLB in runs scored with 390, and the battle has began to take a toll on their document.
After having a three-game lead over the Houston Astros within the American League West on July 1, the Mariners have gone 6-12 since then and have watched their division lead slip away.
Presently trailing the Astros by a sport within the AL West, strikes needed to be made, and including the 2021 American League Rookie of the 12 months award-winner was step one.
Below group management for 2 extra seasons, the Mariners have been capable of purchase the 29-year-old with out giving up considered one of their higher-tier prospects and can set themselves as much as make one other transfer or two to capitalize on their stellar pitching and make a playoff push.
Smith is a 20-year-old outfielder who was the Twelfth-ranked prospect within the Mariners system, in Single-A this yr, he’s slashing .284/.402/.470 with 36 extra-base hits, 42 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 77 video games performed.
Hopkins is making his skilled debut this yr. In 18 appearances at Single-A, the 22-year-old is 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA whereas putting out 95 batters over 83.2 innings pitched.
The third piece is a participant to be named later, however it’ll probably be a participant outdoors of the Mariners’ prime 30 prospects.
Arozarena will look to offer the Mariners the spark they should make solely their second playoff look since 2001.