The New York Yankees allowed Gleyber Torres to sign with the Detroit Tigers. Torres mentioned that he felt the Yankees had other priorities, and he wasn’t a part of that list, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
While the Yankees may not have valued Torres highly, his departure leaves them with a gap at second base. One possible solution is to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. over or give D.J. LeMahieu the starting role. However, FanSided’s James Nolan suggested the Yankees could trade for San Diego Padres star Luis Arraez.
A three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and three-time batting champion, Arraez has won batting titles in three consecutive seasons with different teams. Could he make it four with the Yankees? Spotrac projects him to sign a nine-year, $154 million contract when he hits free agency after the season.
While Arraez isn’t known for his defense, with a career -7 outs above average at second base, his offensive skills make him a valuable leadoff hitter. “The 27-year-old has started 409 games in the leadoff spot, with a .323 batting average and a .364 on-base percentage,” Nolan wrote. “He also has a remarkable .369 batting average with runners in scoring position.” Since Arraez will be a free agent after this season, the Padres might look to trade him for value before he potentially leaves.
Although he wouldn’t be cheap, if the Yankees view him as a long-term asset, they might be willing to pay the price. “Trading prospects is always a risk, but the Yankees are in a win-now window,” Nolan continued.
“With one of MLB’s top pitching staffs, including Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Luis Gil, and a strong lineup, adding Arraez at leadoff in 2025 could be the perfect fit to complement Aaron Judge and the rest of the team’s power hitters.”
