The San Diego Padres have one clear need at the MLB trade deadline: adding a new left fielder. With Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill locking down center and right field, the Padres only spot left to fill on the starting nine is at left field.
But, while the Padres could add at the trade deadline, they have some players that other teams would be interested in. One player, who’s earning a $14 million contract in 2025, would be a top fit for the New York Yankees.
According to an article from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, Padres infielder Luiz Arraez would be the Yankees’ “favorite target” at the trade deadline.
“The Yankees would like an offensive upgrade for both DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza.” Bowden writes. “… That might leave Arraez as the best realistic fit. Arraez is not a great defender, but he’s won a batting title each of the past three years and would create extra traffic on the bases for New York’s sluggers to drive home.”
While the theory works from the Yankees’ side of things, it doesn’t make sense for the Padres. Add Arraez to replace LeMahieu, and shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to third base or second, whichever Arraez doesn’t take, is how the Yankees manage the move.
But for the Padres? There isn’t any good justification for trading Arraez to New York. Bowden writes, “I’m just not sure how the Yankees and Padres would fit as trade partners.”
The Padres, at 38-29, are only two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West division lead. At the trade deadline, barring a monumental collapse, the Padres will be buyers, not sellers.
If the Padres did sell Arraez, they’d need a new first baseman. While Gavin Sheets can take over that role, it’s a lot more uncertain if that would work long-term for San Diego. The Yankees also don’t have a good outfielder for the Padres to acquire, as the Yankees wouldn’t ship off Jasson Dominguez for Arraez. Nor would the Padres want Giancarlo Stanton in left field.
Bowden’s proposal that the Yankees could trade for Arraez doesn’t make sense from the Padres’ side, as it only works for the Yankees. Even with the Yankees, it’s not the most pure fit. With the question marks surrounding this potential deal, it seems unlikely that Bowden’s trade idea would come to fruition, despite his claim that it’s his favorite fit for the Yankees.
