The Seattle Mariners have made a big move to bolster their outfield, acquiring outfielder Luke Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher Brandon Miller.
Raley, 25, was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He has spent the last four seasons in the Rays organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Durham in 2019. Last season, he split time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, hitting .274/.345/.521 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in 105 games.
The Mariners are hoping that Raley can bring some much-needed power to their outfield. He has shown an ability to hit for power in the minors and has a career .842 OPS in the minors. He also has some speed, stealing 28 bases in his minor league career.
Raley is expected to compete for a spot on the Mariners’ Opening Day roster. He could be a valuable asset for the team as they look to improve upon their 2019 season. He will join a crowded outfield that includes Mallex Smith, Mitch Haniger, and Kyle Lewis.
The Mariners have made a great move in acquiring Raley from the Rays. He has the potential to be a key contributor for the team this season and could be an important piece of the team’s future plans. It will be interesting to see how he fits into the Mariners’ plans and how he performs at the major league level.
