Why Randy Arozarena is ‘enormous’ X-factor for Mariners

The biggest X-factor for the Seattle Mariners this season is Julio Rodríguez. In many ways, the M’s go as Julio goes.

But who’s the second-biggest X-factor?

There’s a strong case that title belongs to fellow outfielder Randy Arozarena, who is entering his first full season in Seattle after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline.

Salk: The big Seattle Mariners questions on opening day

The big question with Arozarena is which version of him will be on display.

Will it be the Arozarena who compiled a superhuman 2020 postseason run, won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2021 and was an All-Star in 2023? Or will it be the Arozarena who sputtered to a slow start with Tampa Bay last year en route to the worst season of his young career?

“Other than Julio, I don’t think that there’s anyone else who can add more to the team with the amount of variance in what he could be from top to bottom,” co-host Mike Salk said of Arozarena on Wednesday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “Cal (Raleigh) is right there as a great player. But when hot, Randy is a total offensive package – power, patience, can produce runs, can run himself, doubles, triples, the way he is in the box.”

The file on Randy

Arozarena burst onto the scene as a rookie for the Rays with a sensational October 2020, when he batted .377 with 10 home runs in 20 games during the Rays’ run to the World Series.

He then continued to perform at a high level from 2021 through 2023, batting .264 with 63 homers, 74 steals and a .792 over his first three full seasons.

And to top it off, he starred for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic – which only furthered his reputation as a player who’s at his best in big moments.

However, last year was a step back. Arozarena got off to a slow start, hitting just .211 with a .712 OPS in 100 games with the Rays. He was better after the trade to Seattle, but still hit just .231 with a .733 OPS in 54 games with the Mariners.

Arozarena reached 20 homers and 20 steals last season for a fourth consecutive year, and he posted one of the league’s top walk rates. But after averaging nearly 3.3 fWAR from 2021 through 2023, he produced just 1.9 fWAR last year.

Related: The Mariners need the real Randy Arozarena in 2025

“The amount that they’re counting on him to be really a catalyst inside this lineup I think is enormous,” Salk said of the Mariners. “They spent resources to go get him. They believe he changed what their roster is.”

Co-host Brock Huard listed several reasons why he expects the 30-year-old Arozarena to bounce back.

For one, the Cuban-born Arozarena has now had time to settle in to Seattle after abruptly moving 2,500 miles across the country last summer from Tampa Bay. That’s something that longtime MLB Network host Greg Amsinger addressed during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob last week, detailing why it was difficult for Arozarena to leave the Rays.

More: Arozarena a ‘guaranteed’ bounceback, says MLB Network’s Amsinger

Huard pointed out that Arozarena is just two years away from hitting unrestricted free agency and likely will be motivated to prove last year’s performance was an aberration.

In addition, Arozarena is expected to be either sandwiched between or right behind Rodríguez and Raleigh in the lineup.

“You should get pitches to hit,” Huard said. “You should have opportunities. If people are going to pitch around Julio and be a little timid of Cal, … I think that’s a pretty opportune place to be.”

Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Mariners news and analysis

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