Mariners Got Randy, Now What?
Mariners acquire All-Star Randy Arozarena. Three proposals for their next move.
Just as I was deciding not to check X every ten minutes for Mariner trade updates and was easing into another tense episode of Presumed Innocent, my phone starting blowing up. The Mariners decided to buy and they got a real dude. Seattle traded for Randy Arozarena. Yes, this Randy Arozarena.
The same Randy Arozarena who put on a show at the Home Run Derby at T-Mobile park and started in left field at the 2023 All-Star weekend. The same Randy Arozarena who has a higher OPS than every regular Mariners hitter despite having a poor start to his season. The same Randy Arozarena who has a .920 OPS since June 1st with seven homers and nine steals. And, while we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves here, the same Randy Arozarena who is hitting .336 with 11 homeruns in 113 postseason at-bats.
Giving up two young, promising prospects is never easy. Aidan Smith was a fourth round draft pick just a year ago and already has 10 homers and 34 steals in his first year of minor league baseball. Brody Hopkins, a 2023 6th rounder, is equally impressive as he racked up 95 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. But both players are playing for the Modesto Nuts and years away from contributing at the major league level. (Note: reports today indicate the player to be named later will be lower than these two players. That is good news).
With maybe the top starting pitching staff in the majors, the Mariners can no longer play for the future and worry about prospects. They have to jump in the mix now. But here is the great part about the trade. Randy Arozarena is under contract until 2026. While this trade immediately makes the Mariners better, it also allows them to be better in 2025. We spend hours clamoring for free agent moves that never come close to the quality of Arozarena. However, the Mariners can’t sit on their laurels now. They have to keep making moves. This lineup needs more than this.
Here are three proposed trades that the M’s should do now:
Cole Young, Taylor Dollard and a prospect outside the top 30 for Vlad Guerrero, Jr.
Yes, Cole Young is ranked the Mariners top prospect on MLB.com. But he isn’t SeaTown Sports top prospect! With Colt Emerson, Tai Peete, Felnin Celesten, and Michael Arroyo still around, the M’s have plenty of middle infield help coming down the road. Vlad is under contract (arbitration eligible) through next year although pretty expensive still. Do I think the M’s will do it? No. Should they? Absolutely.
Emerson Hancock and prospect in 15-25 range for Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins
The Orioles are dangling players on the market as they are loaded with their own prospects who are ready to roll now. MLB insiders reported that Mountcastle and Mullins are available although with the trade today of Austin Hays, I wonder about them continuing to deal hitters. However, they need pitching now. Both John Means and Kyle Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery this year so the O’s are stuck with Corbin Burns, Grayson Rodriguez and…? That’s the problem. Burnes and Rodriguez are incredible but the Orioles have a 5.13 ERA since July 1st while trying to win the AL East. Plug in Hancock (coming off a complete game shutout in AAA) and the Orioles are better off.
From the Mariners prospective, dealing from starting pitcher depth for two hitters better than our entire lineup is absolutely worth it. Mullins is having a down year, but his speed and range in the outfield would improve the team immediately. Mullins would have to agree to play right field which is a big ask, but his arm strength seems to be decreasing and this could be the future for him anyway. Mountcastle is hitting .271 with 12 homers and a .751 OPS. So yes, he becomes our best hitter (even over Arozarena).
Just for a second, imagine this lineup even without Vlad.
RF Mullins
CF Julio
LF Arozarena
1B Mountcastle
C Cal
2B Polanco
DH Garver
3B Rojas
SS Moore
Raley is the DH against righties. When JP comes back, it looks even better.
If the M’s needed to include a higher level prospect to make this happen, I would do it. I just wouldn’t include any in the top 8-9.
Two prospects below top 20 for Luis Rengifo
This might even be too much for Rengifo, but I love this dude. He has an OPS over .700 for the last three years and has a strikeout rate under 20% in that same time period. The M’s need players who hit the ball. Sounds simple, but this team likes to swing and miss instead. Rengifo also provides energy that will match Arozarena and give the Mariners the spark they need now.
Wow. Kind of a big deal. Wow!