Luis Arraez is way from an ideal ballplayer, however anybody losing brainpower debating whether or not or not he’d enhance the Yankees must take a better have a look at their incumbent choices.
The Yankees have mentioned the three-time batting champ with the Padres, in response to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. That is smart, because the membership has a gap at second or third base now that Gleyber Torres is a Tiger. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will play one of many two positions, whereas Arraez might deal with the opposite if acquired.
The choice could be to begin or platoon some mixture of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza at second or third.
LeMahieu, a two-time batting champ himself, has proven important decline and had bother staying wholesome over the previous couple of seasons. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Yankees find yourself consuming a big chunk of the $30 million he’s nonetheless owed over the following two years, although the membership has publicly expressed hope that he can bounce again in 2025.
Cabrera is healthier suited in a utility position, as his versatility may help the Yankees at nearly each place. Peraza, a former prime prospect with a slick glove, has but to point out that he can hit massive league pitching and will probably be uncovered to waivers if he doesn’t make the Bombers’ massive league roster out of spring coaching.
With Torres gone, the Yankees are additionally lacking a transparent leadoff man who can constantly get on base and hit for common in entrance of Aaron Choose. Their greatest in-house choices are Chisholm and Anthony Volpe. Each are speedsters, however Chisholm is a.249 hitter with a .311 OBP for his profession. Volpe, whereas contemporary off an encouraging postseason, is a .228 hitter with a .288 OBP.
Arraez owns a .323 common and .372 OBP over six seasons which have spanned each leagues. As a leadoff hitter, these numbers are .313 and .345.
Final yr was a down one for Arraez, and the 27-year-old nonetheless hit .314 and gained a batting title whereas splitting his season between Miami and San Diego. He additionally handled a thumb harm that finally required surgical procedure.
Arraez, who isn’t fleet of foot, would enable Chisholm and Volpe to hit decrease within the lineup, the place they might theoretically steal extra freely with out the chance of working into outs with Choose on the plate.
One of many knocks in opposition to Arraez is that he doesn’t stroll a lot, which is one thing you’d need in a leadoff man. Nevertheless, he places the ball in play at a ridiculous price, and his 196 free passes nonetheless tops his 194 profession strikeouts.
Luis Arraez had 672 plate appearances in 2024…he put the ball in play throughout 611 of them. pic.twitter.com/jxo7FTQyOo
There are a couple of different the explanation why Arraez isn’t closely valued; he has an 11.0 fWAR for his whole profession regardless of being a three-time All-Star.
For one, he has subsequent to no energy and doesn’t drive many individuals in. He solely had 4 homers final season and has 28 for his profession to associate with a .418 slugging share. Whereas he recorded 200 hits final season, 161 of these had been singles, and he solely totaled 250 bases.
Maybe the lefty swinger might add some pop in Yankee Stadium — Baseball Savant says he’d have 10 extra profession homers if he performed within the Bronx — however the Yankees additionally wouldn’t be getting Arraez to be some bopper. They’d be getting him to arrange Choose and the center of the order as a result of there’s no reliable candidate to try this proper now.
Arraez can also be a poor defender and baserunner. At second, the place he’s performed probably the most, he’s tallied -1 Defensive Runs Saved, -33 Outs Above Common, a -24 Fielding Run Worth and 16 errors over 2,711 innings. At third, these figures are 4, -7, -5 and 7 over 585.1 innings.
Along with being gradual, Arraez has a -3.6 BsR — that’s FanGraphs’ all-encompassing baserunning metric — for his profession.
Whereas these will not be fascinating traits for a Yankees crew that was stricken by dangerous protection and baserunning final season, the membership additionally made all of it the way in which to the World Sequence with Torres being a bottom-three defensive second baseman and baseball’s sixth-worst runner when it comes to BsR. Torres additionally didn’t hit on the price Arraez did, even after overcoming a first-half stoop and rising because the Yankees’ leadoff man.
However this argument in favor of an Arraez commerce isn’t about Torres. It’s not even utterly about Arraez given the Yankees’ restricted choices as they proceed to seek for offensive firepower following Juan Soto’s departure.
We’ve already lined the lackluster inside decisions. Externally, there’s little left to love at second or third on the open market, and the Reds simply acquired Gavin Lux, one other second baseman of curiosity to the Yankees, from the Dodgers on Monday night time. The Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado and free agent Alex Bregman have been steadily talked about as prospects for the Yankees, however every participant comes with considerations and would require a big, multi-year monetary dedication.
Arraez, then again, will earn roughly $14 million this coming season earlier than hitting free company, that means the Yankees would solely be on the hook for one yr if a hypothetical commerce didn’t work out nicely for them. With a projected payroll already over the best luxurious tax threshold, they might need to shed some wage earlier than taking over that cash.
Nevertheless, if the Yanks can land Arraez at an inexpensive value, they need to significantly think about bringing him in. Arraez might not be a flawless match, however he’s higher than the opposite paths in entrance of them.
