Luis Arraez. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Why Yankees should trade whatever it takes for Luis Arraez

By Aaron Case | Last updated Jan 25, 2025 2:16 PM ET

The New York Yankees seem to be counting on internal options like Oswaldo Cabrera or Oswald Peraza to complete their 2025 infield. While one of those guys could surprise everyone with a breakout year, a much better, fully proven option possibly available via trade is second baseman Luis Arraez.

The San Diego Padres may be looking to dump Arraez’s $14 million contract for prospects before he demands much more in free agency in 2026. The Bombers should make an offer the Padres can’t refuse because he could be the piece they need to end their 16-year championship drought.

Arraez isn’t a power threat and doesn’t walk much, but the Yankees should get more than enough long balls and free passes from the rest of their lineup. What Arraez would give the Yankees is base hits and balls in play.

Luis Arraez is a hitting machine pic.twitter.com/Y0qj9NHWk6
— MLB (@MLB) January 14, 2025

The 27-year-old is a .323 career hitter, and he’s put up 200 or more hits in the last two seasons while striking out only 63 times. While base hits and batting averages have been devalued and strikeout totals overlooked in the league recently, they shouldn’t be.

The Yankees are great at putting runners on base. In the 2024 World Series, they outhit the Los Angeles Dodgers in almost every category. The Bombers series OBP was .332 compared to the Dodgers’ .296 mark. Yet the Dodgers scored more runs (25 to the Yankees’ 24) and easily won the series.

While the Yankees did notch 36 base hits to the Dodgers’ 33, replacing a few of their walks with base knocks could have put New York over the edge. Think about it: a walk can’t drive in a runner from second base; a single can.

In addition to his ability to hit for average and avoid Ks, Arraez can balance the Yankees’ lineup. If they bat him leadoff, they could go lefty/righty down to switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez in the No. 9 hole. For instance:

Luis Arraez, 2B
Aaron Judge, RF
Cody Bellinger, CF
Giancarlo Stanton, DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Austin Wells, C
Anthony Volpe, SS
Jasson Dominguez, LF

That lineup is a thing of beauty. And sure, the switch-hitting Cabrera could offer the same balance — but he hasn’t proven he can consistently hit.

Plus, Arraez will be playing for a contract. He’s liable to win his fourth straight batting title and possibly put up well over 200 hits as he tries to maximize his market value.

The Yankees don’t need to think about this trade. Just give the Padres what they want for their hit machine.

Aaron Case

Aaron Case is a die hard Yankees fan from upstate New York who fuels his writing with too much coffee. When he's not riding the emotional roller coaster that is the MLB season, he's probably daydreaming and doodling or making beats. Follow him on X @AarontheCase1

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