MLB Trade Rumors: Arozarena, Mountcastle Among Top Hitters Available at 2024 Deadline

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle are among hitters "who at least to some extent are available" as the July 30 trade deadline rapidly approaches, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who cited industry sources.

The entire hitter list per Rosenthal is as follows:

• Tampa Bay Rays: Randy Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe, Isaac Paredes

• San Francisco Giants: Michael Conforto, Wilmer Flores, Mike Yastrzemski

• Los Angeles Angels: Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo

• Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins Jr.

• Miami Marlins: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Josh Bell

• Washington Nationals: Lane Thomas, Jesse Winker

The 29-year-old Arozarena is having a down year, hitting a career-low .209 with a .707 OPS. But he has power (15 homers) and speed (15 stolen bases) and has the electric capability and infectious charisma to light up a team's offense, like when he hit 10 playoff homers for the 2020 Rays in their run to the American League pennant.

The 27-year-old Mountcastle is hitting .267 (.744 OPS) with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He's spent his entire five-year career with Baltimore, an oft-mentioned team in trade rumors as the first-place squad looks to improve its roster in hopes for the franchise's first World Series title since 1983.

Based on Rosenthal's list, there isn't a shortage of talented and available bats for contenders to pursue.

The Rays' quartet of Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes is interesting in particular. Díaz hit an American League-high .330 last year (.273 this year with eight home runs and 46 RBI). Lowe's .811 OPS leads the Rays. And Paredes' pop has shined of late, to the point where his 16 home runs and 51 RBI paces the team.

Los Angels Angels infielder Luis Rengifo is having the best season of his career, hitting .314 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 70 games. He was on the injured list with a wrist injury but has since been activated.

And then there's Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., who sports a career 162-game average of 27 home runs and 82 RBI, per Baseball-Reference. He has 13 homers and 47 RBI this year.

With the advent of the 12-team playoff, far more teams are in the mix as usual, leading to more contenders looking for additions. Some of those contenders are in serious need of offensive help, such as the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners. So it wouldn't be a surprise to see a host of players on the list Rosenthal provided move prior to what could be a chaotic deadline.