The New York Yankees allowed Gleyber Torres to sign with the Detroit Tigers, and Torres mentioned that he felt the Yankees had other priorities, with him not being part of their plans, as reported by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Regardless of the Yankees’ stance on Torres, they now face a gap at second base. One option is to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. into the role or have D.J. LeMahieu take over. However, James Nolan of FanSided suggested that the Yankees could look to acquire San Diego Padres star Luis Arraez in a trade.
Arraez, a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and three-time batting champion, has won three consecutive batting titles with different teams. He could aim for a fourth title with a fourth team. Spotrac projects that Arraez will sign a nine-year, $154 million deal when he becomes a free agent after the season. While Arraez isn’t an elite defender, with a career minus-seven outs above average in 307 starts at second base, he would fill an immediate need for the Yankees: a leadoff hitter.
Arraez has excelled at the top of the order, posting a .323 batting average and a .364 on-base percentage in 409 games as a leadoff hitter. He has also been exceptional with runners in scoring position, batting .369. Since he will be a free agent after the season, the Padres may want to trade him before potentially losing him for nothing. Although he wouldn’t come cheaply, the Yankees may be willing to pay the price if they see him as a long-term solution.
Nolan points out that while trading prospects carries risks, the Yankees are in a position to contend for a World Series now. With one of the best pitching staffs in MLB, led by Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Luis Gil, adding Arraez to their lineup would provide an ideal complement to Aaron Judge and the other power hitters, making him a perfect fit for the Yankees in 2025.
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