Randy Arozarena’s likely Mariners exit will open a door to an Aaron Judge fantasy

Zachary Rymer argues that Randy Arozarena's expected departure in free agency could provide the Seattle Mariners with a valuable compensatory draft pick. After recording a 148 OPS+ and 5.7 rWAR in 2026, the 31-year-old outfielder is expected to receive and reject a $23.15 million qualifying offer before signing a lucrative contract elsewhere on the open market.

Rymer notes that because Seattle is a revenue-sharing recipient, Arozarena signing a deal exceeding $50 million would grant the Mariners a compensatory pick after the first round. The writer highlights that teams have previously landed superstar talent through such picks, specifically citing the New York Yankees drafting Aaron Judge 32nd overall in 2013.