Could Jerry Dipoto link up with an old business partner?
Could Jerry Dipoto link up with an old business partner?
One familiar team may have the key to many of Seattle's needs this offseason. Could the two sides match up in a deal?
At this point in the offseason, you have to squint to find teams willing to move their players. Seattle has still not made a move since Kolten Wong, creating doubt that an impact move is in the cards. Bryan Reynolds and Tyler O’Neill may be options, but after that, it is hard to find a fit.
One team that is always interested in swapping talent with the Mariners is the Tampa Bay Rays. They have a few players that may fit in Seattle, but which ones fit the best?
(I am not going to go back over Brandon Lowe, but if you want to find my article on him you can find it here).
3. Jonathan Aranda
Earlier this offseason it was mentioned that the Rays could be interested in moving on from Jonathan Aranda, Vidal Bruján, or Taylor Walls. Aranda is my favorite of the three, and the one that fits best on this current Mariners roster.
Aranda played all over the diamond last season for the Rays, mostly at second base, third base, and first base. This is a profile that could fit very well on this team, as the front office has expressed their desire for a corner infielder.
Aranda is basically a left-handed version of Ty France. He has a massive hit tool and the ability to get on base at an extremely high level. The 24-year-old has dominated at every level with his bat, making him an excellent upside play for Seattle.
He shouldn’t be a second baseman but would be much better suited for the corners. This is a role Tampa already has Yandy Diaz for, so they could be motivated to move on from Aranda to fill another roster hole.
I love Aranda and think he could be a real, under-the-radar option for the Mariners.
2. Yandy Díaz
Yandy Diaz is a player I have written about this offseason already, you can find that here. The Rays always search for the best time to move on from their players, and this offseason could be their time to move on from him.
The 31-year-old corner infielder is under contract for two more seasons, making it seem possible for Tampa Bay to move on. He was their best hitter last season, posting a 146 WRC+ and 3.8 WAR in 137 games.
He could be an impact addition if the Rays are willing to move him, especially in a rotation with Ty France and Eugenio Suárez. He controls the zone better than almost any player in major league baseball while having a similar batted-ball profile to Julio Rodríguez and Teoscar Hernández.
Yandy is an outside-the-box addition that would add real impact to this lineup. I still think the Mariners would rather add a better athlete to their lineup, but the right-handed presence of Díaz fits well.
1. Randy Arozarena
Randy Arozarena is a perfect fit for what Jerry Dipoto is looking for this offseason. He is looking for an impact bat with years of control, and I believe they would prefer a plus athlete if possible.
Coming off a 125 WRC+ season, Arozarena has now proven himself to be a well above average offensive performer. Primarily having played left field for Tampa Bay, the 27 year old would provide an instant fix for Seattle in this spot.
Arozarena still has four years of club control remaining, so the Rays would likely need to be blown away in order to deal him. I find it hard to believe the Mariners could put together an offer to get him, but a recent Ryan Divish article provides some framework. He says it would certainly cost Kelenic, Harry Ford, and more to pull him away.
The fit is undeniable here and could be just the creative solution Jerry Dipoto has been looking for. It has to be noted that Tampa has mentioned an extension for him as a possibility.
