Riding the Wave with Randy Arozarena
Former Cardinals Whose Careers Might Have Thrived under contemporary Youth-focused Approach
Ever since the Randy Arozarena-Matthew Liberatore swap back in 2020, both ballplayers have seen contrasting fortunes. While Liberatore has been working his way up in the St. Louis Cardinals, Arozarena has been lighting up the Tampa Bay Rays' scoreboard.
Fun fact: Arozarena's electrifying postseason performances in 2020 set multiple franchise records for the Rays, including the most home runs in a single postseason!
Here's a quick rundown of the dynamic outfielder's journey:
- Shining in the Sunshine State: Arozarena, who dons the Rays jersey since the fateful trade, has become a crowd favorite with his thrilling performances. Despite a high strikeout count of 170, he still managed to smash 20 home runs, swipe 20 bases, and maintain a robust .815 OPS in his opening season as a Ray.
Fast forward to 2022, and you'll find Arozarena batting at a solid .273, slugging 20 long balls, and driving in 89 RBIs – talking about a power-hitting machine! He's even been named an All-Star and received Rookie of the Year votes.
- The Road to Red Birds: Before finding success down South, Arozarena signed a $1.25 million deal with the Cardinals in 2016. Though he wasn't in the Cardinals' top prospect pool, he still served as valuable outfield depth behind prospects like Dylan Carlson and Lane Thomas.
Arozarena first saw major-league action in 2019 with St. Louis, and managed an impressive .300/.391/.500 slash line, four homers, and a double in just 23 plate appearances. His impressive stint in the minors (.853 OPS) hinted at great things to come.
The Journey of Matthew Liberatore in St. Louis
Meanwhile, Liberatore, the pitching prospect acquired in the same trade, has had a tumultuous ride in St. Louis. To begin with, he faced some challenges finding his footing in the Cardinals' system and struggled to nail down a role.
- Recent Developments: The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel comes to sight as Liberatore is showing signs of improvement, particularly in 2025. Through his initial four starts, his ERA stands at a promising 3.60, giving the Cardinals a glimmer of hope that he might become the front-line, top-tier starter they initially envisioned when they secured his services.
Looking back, Liberatore was once ranked among the top 100 prospects in the MLB. If he can maintain this steady growth, he could prove to be a vital addition to the Cardinals' rotation.
- The outfielder, Randy Arozarena, who joined the Tampa Bay Rays after the 2020 trade, has become a fan favorite with his electrifying performances in the Sunshine State, despite a high strikeout count of 170.
- In his opening season as a Ray, Arozarena managed to slam 20 home runs, steal 20 bases, and maintain a robust .815 OPS, despite his high strikeout count.
- The pitching prospect, Matthew Liberatore, acquired in the same trade, has had a challenging journey in the St. Louis Cardinals' system, initially struggling to find his footing.
- Fast forward to 2025, Liberatore is showing signs of improvement with an ERA of 3.60 in his initial four starts, giving the Cardinals a glimmer of hope that he might become the front-line, top-tier starter they initially envisioned.
