Everyone unanimously expects the Braves to acquire at least one outfielder ahead of the trade deadline in a couple of weeks with Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the season. Last time that happened, Anthopoulos went out and swung four different deals for outfielders. I wouldn’t expect that this season, but acquiring multiple bodies could very well be in the cards, depending on how big the Braves want to go. If Anthopoulos wants to focus on something bigger, a guy that can start every day and is under control for multiple seasons, there won’t be many better options available than Randy Arozarena.
The Rays star is amid a career-worst-season, hitting just .202 with 12 homers as the second half of the season is set to begin. However, Arozarena has been too good for too long to expect this type of slump to continue forever. He also comes with a couple of attributes Alex Anthopoulos tends to favor when evaluating trade candidates. He has an infectious personality that would fit perfectly in the Braves clubhouse, and he’s already established himself as one of the best postseason hitters in the history of the sport. Over 33 playoff games, Arozarena is hitting .336 with 11 homers, good for an OPS of 1.104.
The icing on the cake is that Arozarena is also under team control through 2026, which Alex Anthopolous might prefer, given the uncertainty of Acuña’s health. It’s very possible the Braves look to make him more of a designated hitter for at least next year.
I haven’t hidden my preference leading up to the trade deadline. There are a number of trade targets that could fill the Braves needs in the outfield, but Arozarena just feels like the ideal fit. The energy he would bring to the clubhouse is much-needed, and the postseason stats are undeniable, but I imagine a lot of competitive teams will be calling the Rays thinking the same thing. Despite the unsightly numbers, two-and-a-half years of Arozarena won’t come cheap.
Braves Trade Hypothetical For Randy Arozarena
Braves gets Randy Arozarena
Rays get Hurston Waldrep
This should be enough to get it done, even after Hurston Waldrep really struggled at the major-league level this year, exposing some of his flaws for the entire world to see. Outside of his splitter, which is a unicorn pitch, his other offerings need a lot of work before he can have success as a starter consistently. With that being said, he’s still just a year removed from being drafted in the first round and comes with a ton of upside. The Rays have been better than anyone at developing young pitchers, and Waldrep is a ball of clay with tremendous ability. I like the fit for him in Tampa, and I love the fit with Arozarena in Atlanta.
More must-reads: