Randy Arozarena Sparks Speculation Amid Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Rumors

Shortly after reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays were working on a massive trade, Randy Arozarena posted cryptic photos with Shohei Ohtani.

With trade rumors swirling around the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Randy Arozarena only added fuel to the fire late Tuesday night.

A report from MLB Nerds' Jack Azoulay-Haron was the first to claim that the Rays would be sending starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot to the Dodgers, which was seconded by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal the following morning. Later in the night, however, Hog Media Sports' Borna Nazari reported that Glasnow and Arozarena would be the ones headed to Los Angeles instead.

Amid all the noise, Arozarena took to Instagram, sharing a few photos of him and newly-minted Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani from the World Baseball Classic back in March.

Arozarena's post certainly doesn't confirm or corroborate any of the reports from Tuesday night, but the timing was intriguing to say the least.

The Rays have been heavily rumored to be shopping Glasnow and Margot since the start of the offseason, given their current payroll situation. Multiple teams reportedly inquired about Arozarena's availability prior to the Winter Meetings as well.

Glasnow and Margot are owed $25 million and $10 million in 2024, respectively. The former is slated to hit free agency next offseason, while the latter has a $12 million club option for 2025.

Arozarena has three years left of team control, and MLB Trade Rumors is projecting him to earn $9 million in arbitration this coming season.

The 28-year-old left fielder won AL Rookie of the Year in 2021, and he made his first All-Star appearance in 2023. Since becoming an everyday player, Arozarena is averaging 21 home runs, 80 RBI and 25 stolen bases a year while batting .264 with a .792 OPS and a 3.4 WAR.

Arozarena feasted on the Dodgers' pitchers in the 2020 World Series, even if his best efforts at the plate weren't enough to lift the Rays to victory that fall. Still, Arozarena hit .364 with three home runs and a 1.234 OPS in six games versus Los Angeles that October, establishing himself as one of baseball's hottest young stars in the process.

It remains to be seen if Arozarena or any of his Rays teammates will be joining the Dodgers in the coming days, or if the outfielder was simply toying with fans on social media.

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