The New York Yankees seem to be just one piece away from building their perfect post-Juan Soto lineup.
No one wants to lose a generational talent, but the Yankees have done well to pivot quickly after Soto signed with the New York Mets. They traded for Cody Bellinger to be their new center fielder, then signed Paul Goldschmidt to lock down first base.
Three-time defending batting champion Luis Arraez, who can play second base but is best suited as a first baseman, has been a highly-discussed Yankees trade target as the San Diego Padres look to shed some payroll. Does adding Goldschmidt take the Yankees out of the Arraez equation?
In a recent mailbag column, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic theorized that the Yankees could still be in play for Arraez via trade, though he also hinted that there were better options for the Yankees available at the second base position.
“There’s still room for Arraez if they wanted him for second base, where he also plays,” Kirschner said in the wake of the Goldschmidt signing. “Arraez is a polarizing player because he’s a terrible defender and doesn’t offer much on the basepaths but is one of the best bat-to-ball hitters in the sport.”
“While there’s value, the Yankees should look to see if they can add more power before inquiring about Arraez’s availability.”
Arraez, 27, has batted .328 over the last three seasons, including a whopping .354 in 2023. He rarely walks, hits for minimal power, and isn’t a threat on the basepaths, so he’s essentially a one-tool player.
That tool could, however, prove to be extremely effective in front of Aaron Judge in the Yankees lineup, because even if Arraez doesn’t have the on-base skills of Soto, his bat-to-ball skills could wear down opposing pitchers before facing the AL MVP.
Is it likely at this point that the Yankees trade for Arraez? Definitely not, but as Kirschner indicates, we shouldn’t completely discount the possibility.
More MLB: Yankees $45 million All-Star predicted to ditch the Bronx in favor of Mariners
