The Los Angeles Dodgers were reportedly interested in acquiring Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena before he was traded to the Seattle Mariners late Thursday.
But according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Arozarena is just one of two outfielders the Dodgers are targeting before next Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline.
“The Dodgers are pursuing Arozarena,” the source said. “He would be a good fit for the Dodgers.”
Another player the Dodgers have expressed interest in is White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who is under contract for $15 million in 2025 with club options for $20 million in 2026 and 2027, according to sources cited by Feinsand.
Los Angeles has used a platoon of outfielders for most of the year, but its weakest position has been in center field. Andy Paige and James Outman have been the team’s primary center fielders, but Outman has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and batted just .153 overall. Paige has been inconsistent at the plate and defensively, ceding playing time to certain opponents.
Bringing reliable hitting and postseason experience is crucial, which may be why the Dodgers preferred Arozarena over Robert.
Trading an outfielder may be a lower priority than adding depth to the team’s pitching staff, so trading Arozarena may not be the end of the world. The Dodgers need starting pitchers to complement their current rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Landon Knack and River Ryan, and that could be the bulk of the team’s focus over the next few days.