The Tampa Bay Rays have made it to the postseason in each of the last five seasons but their streak might end this season. The Rays (48-48) are fourth in the AL East, 10.0 games behind the leaders, the Baltimore Orioles, and 5.5 games behind the Wild Card spot.
With the team likely to miss out on a postseason berth, the Rays are expected to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. One of the names that has been linked to a few teams is All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena.
While discussing Arozarena's future with Doug McKain, senior MLB insider Buster Olney said the Rays are likely to cash in on the outfielder if they receive a suitable offer.
"I do think that if someone comes in and wants to get Arozarena and is willing to pay the price, they will move him because that’s what they do. I do think that they will listen to other teams that will talk about Randy,” Olney said.
The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year was voted the second-likeliest position player to find a new team, according to Jim Bowden's survey of MLB executives.
LA Dodgers emerge as potential landing spot for Randy Arozarena
With Randy Arozarena's name floated as a possible trade candidate, NL West leaders the LA Dodgers have emerged as a possible landing spot.
According to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Dodgers are linked with Luis Robert Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Brent Rooker but Arozarena is reportedly the team's first choice.
Although the 29-year-old has underwhelmed at the plate this season, slashing .202/.309/.362, he won't be a free agent until 2027 and has a relatively low salary of $8,100,000. While the Rays could fetch a decent return for the star slugger, the Dodgers would get an impactful bat who could step up in the postseason and provide the team with flexibility in utilizing Andy Pages and Jason Heyward.