The New York Yankees may be adding one of the best pure hitters in Major League Baseball this offseason.
Paul Goldschmidt has helmed first base well for the Yankees this year, but is on a one-year, $12.5 million contract and is set to be a free agent after this season. Goldschmidt is 37 years old and is not getting any younger. Though he is a seven-time All-Star, he will not be New York’s long-term option at first base.
That is where the three-time batting champion Luis Arráez steps in. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts that the Yankees will sign Arráez to a six-year deal this offseason.
“Luis Arráez has won three consecutive batting titles and could be in the mix for a fourth if Will Smith either fades down the stretch or even fails to make enough plate appearances to qualify, which he is barely on pace to do,” Miller wrote.
“But Arráez doesn’t draw walks, hit home runs, steal bases or play great defense, making it tough to see anyone giving him a $20M AAV. If he’s reaching $100M total, it’s probably going to need to be at least a seven-year deal. (Prediction: Arráez signs a six-year, $90M-ish deal with the Yankees.)”
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Arráez certainly is not a power hitter, but he consistently gets on base. The 28-year-old has a career average of .319 and is slashing .298/.333/.740 this season and has only struck out 12 times in 430 at-bats.
Arráez is on a one-year, $14 million deal with the San Diego Padres, but with his skill set, he would be a welcome addition with New York.
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