The Tampa Bay Rays were in need of outfield depth so they reached out to an earlier trade partner to strike a deal.
Earlier this offseason the Rays sent Tommy Pham to the San Diego Padres in exchange for slugger and defensive wizard Hunter Renfroe, and top-infield prospect Xavier Edwards.
As it stood prior to the deal, the newly acquired Randy Arozarena was projected to be the likely backup in the centerfield. He fit the mold of a right-handed bat with above-average defense, but his inexperience may have played a factor in the Rays reaching out to the Padres about Manuel Margot.