One of many first massive booms of the 2024 commerce deadline occurred late Thursday night.
Determined for an affect 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 sluggish begin to the 2024 season that noticed him slash .178/.291/.326 with 9 dwelling runs and 22 RBI over his first 70 video games, Arozarena has returned to kind over his final 30 video games, posting a .287/.378/.546 slash line with six dwelling runs and 15 RBI.
With one of the best 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 report.
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 recreation within the AL West, strikes needed to be made, and including the 2021 American League Rookie of the Yr award-winner was step one.
Underneath staff management for 2 extra seasons, the Mariners had been in a position to purchase the 29-year-old with out giving up one in every 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 12 months, 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 12 months. In 18 appearances at Single-A, the 22-year-old is 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA whereas placing out 95 batters over 83.2 innings pitched.
The third piece is a participant to be named later, however it should doubtless be a participant exterior of the Mariners’ high 30 prospects.
Arozarena will look to provide the Mariners the spark they should make solely their second playoff look since 2001.
