MLB Trade Rumors: Execs ‘Circling’ Rays’ Randy Arozarena, Díaz, Lowe amid Struggles

Randy Arozarena Returns to Tampa Bay Rays' Lineup Following Hamstring Injury

Prior to the July 30 trade deadline, teams are reportedly planning to target first baseman Yandy Díaz, second baseman Brandon Lowe, and outfielder Randy Arozarena in trade talks with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Given the Rays’ AL East last-place status, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that teams are hoping to “buy low” on the team’s most expensive players.

Arozarena’s worst professional season is currently underway. Through his first 65 games, he is hitting.175/.283/.319 with eight home runs and twenty runs batted in. Arozarena still has two years left on his arbitration contract, but this season he’s already making $8.1 million, and by 2025 he should be well into the eight figures.

For Rays' Randy Arozarena, an info boost leads to an All-Star turn

After a brilliant 2023 season, Díaz has drastically declined, posting a dismal slash line of.258/.328/.358 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in. It was to be expected that the 32-year-old would regress from his 22 home runs in the previous season—he had never hit more than 14 in any previous season—but his batting average of.258 is the second-worst of his career.

Díaz is under contract with the Rays for reasonable amounts in 2025 ($10 million) and 2026 ($12 million), but given his poor play, he is still a trade target.

Lowe hasn’t impressed much this season and has a $10.5 million club option for the 2025 campaign. While on the injured list for the majority of the season, he is slashing.205/.313/.398 when he is in the lineup.

It’s evident that opposing teams believe that moving to a new location will help things improve, but it’s reasonable to wonder if the Rays will object to paying a low price for players who are drastically underperforming their means.