The New York Yankees are still looking for an infield replacement for Gleyber Torres. The Yankees still need a reliable infielder to complete the depth chart after Juan Soto, even if Paul Goldschmidt can play first base well and Jazz Chisholm can switch between second and third.
Second baseman Luis Arraez of the San Diego Padres, who again topped the National League in hitting average (.314) last season, is one of their rumoured targets. In addition to winning three consecutive batting titles, Arraez has been named to the All-Star team three times in a row. It’s easy to see why the Yankees might be interested in his stated availability at the age of 27.
Arraez’s contract’s last year of arbitration eligibility is about to begin. The Padres, who are also offering Dylan Cease’s contract on the trade market, don’t seem eager to pay him when he’s due in 2026.
Despite the fact that Arraez is a very reliable batsman who would be a great addition to New York’s lineup in front of Aaron Judge, the hype train was smashed Monday afternoon.
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The Yankees don’t seem all that interested in making a trade for Luis Arraez.
There was conjecture that Gavin Lux, another rumoured Yankees target, may be traded back to the Yankees when he was transferred to Cincinnati. However, that rumour was swiftly dispelled, thus paving the way for Arraez to end up in pinstripes.
That is, until New York Post reporter Jon Heyman arrived from the top ring with some conclusive coverage of the topic.
Although he qualifies his claim with the loaded phrase “for now,” there has been equal parts skepticism and hope around a possible Arraez-Yankees pairing. Despite his exceptional bat-to-ball skills, Arraez doesn’t generate many walks and provides very little power at the top of the lineup. He’s not much of a defender, either. When looking at Arraez’s career, it would be a stretch to say he is a one-trick pony, although his influence is more limited than one might imagine.323 batting average and looking over his list of accomplishments.
Arraez had a pitiful 1.0 WAR and.739 OPS at the end of the previous season. It seems far less remarkable when presented that way. Although batting leadoff in front of Aaron Judge is the best possible setup for Arraez—talk about protection—the Yankees are not foolish for taking other options into consideration, particularly if Arraez’s reputation is driving up his market value.
There are many exciting options in the free agency pool, regardless of whether the Yankees decide to go for Alex Bregman or go more moderately with Yoan Moncada, Ha-seong Kim, or Nicky Lopez.
Something must be done, regardless of how the Yankees choose to handle the matter. The existing design of the infield depth chart will not hold up well. After Soto left, Brian Cashman and the front office did a fantastic job quickly rebuilding, but New York can’t afford to cut corners just yet. Judge’s prime and a World Series are at stake.
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