Randy Arozarena Traded To Mariners For Aidan Smith, Brody Hopkins

Image credit: Randy Arozarena (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

The Mariners have one of the best pitching staffs in the sport. In the early morning hours of July 26, they made a move to add some offense and give those arms some support. In exchange for a pair of minor leaguers in outfielder Aidan Smith and righthander Brody Hopkins, as well as a player to be named later, Seattle pried Randy Arozarena—one of October’s most potent sluggers—away from the Rays.

SEATTLE RECEIVES

Randy Arozarena, OF
Age: 29

If you’re looking for a player who knows how to perform in October, Arozarena is hard to beat. He started this season slowly but has been excellent over the past two months, and now instantly becomes one of the best hitters in Seattle’s lineup. At his best, he’s a thumper with a special knack for October baseball. If he can continue performing the way he has this summer, he might just help Seattle play deep into the fall.

TAMPA BAY RECEIVES

Aidan Smith, OF
Age: 20

Smith was the Mariners’ fourth-rounder from the 2023 draft out of high school in Texas. In his first full year as a pro, the righty has been a revelation as part of a stacked team in Low-A Modesto. He’s hit the ball plenty hard, with respective 90th percentile and max exit velocities of around 102 and 113 mph. His body is still projectable, so it’s possible he adds even more thump. Defensively, Smith has split his time nearly evenly between center and right field and has drawn raves for his route-running abilities in center, as well as his 60-grade speed. No matter how his power develops, he has skills and tools that will play in the big leagues.

Brody Hopkins, RHP
Age: 22

Hopkins was Seattle’s sixth-round pick a year ago out of Winthrop, where he was a two-way talent. On the mound, he is a physical, imposing presence at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, and he creates funky angles with his delivery. He works with a full four-pitch complement two potentially plus weapons in his fastball and slider, as well as an average changeup and fringy cutter. With Low-A Modesto, Hopkins had struck out 95 hitters in 80.2 innings but could stand to find the zone a shade more often, as made clear by his 40 walks and 59% strike rate. Hopkins has also done an excellent job keeping the ball in the park, with just two home runs allowed all year and a groundout-to-airout rate of better than 2-to-1.