Report: Yankees eyeing trade for three-time batting champion

The New York Yankees’ post-Juan Soto revenge tour may be continuing.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported on Monday that the Yankees have had talks with the San Diego Padres about a potential trade for infielder Luis Arraez. The Yankees are looking for a new starting second baseman following the departure of Gleyber Torres in free agency last month.

The lefty-hitting Arraez, 27, has won a batting title in each of the last three seasons running and hitting .314 last year over 150 games combined between the Padres and the Miami Marlins. He is one of the top contact hitters in baseball and very rarely strikes out (though his power stats dipped last season, likely due to a torn thumb ligament that he finally underwent surgery on after San Diego’s season ended in October).

As for the Yankees, they have been aggressive after losing Soto to the rival New York Mets and have already added outfielder Cody Bellinger and closer Devin Williams via trade as well as Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried via free agency. Arraez, entering the final year of his contract next season at $13.7 million, is one of several high-profile trade candidates for the Padres right now. He could be the cherry on top for the Yankees’ offseason if they can find a way to acquire him.