The New York Yankees are reportedly looking for a solution at second base. Evidently, they don’t want to enter the season with DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza as their starter at the keystone.
One of the Yankees targets, Gavin Lux, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. They are reportedly talking to free agent Brendan Rodgers, too. The most logical solution at this point, however, is making a trade for San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez.
The Yankees and Padres are reportedly ‘not close’ to a deal for Luis Arraez
According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, there is a chance the Yankees eventually acquire Arraez. However, a deal is not imminent at this time:
“A Luis Arraez trade to the Yankees is a ‘possibility,'” MLB Network posted on X. “…sides are not close right now.”
Arraez would be a better solution than the Yankees’ internal options
Arraez hit .314 last year with the Padres, but his wRC+ was just 109. In 2023, his barring average was a much better .354, and he accumulated rock-solid 130 wRC+.
The Yankees know that Arraez is probably not the best for their roster, lineup, and stadium. He is a lefty hitter, but his home run output probably won’t be affected by the short porch. He is also more of a batting average asset than an OBP stalwart, and the Yankees need hitters who can take walks.
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Even with these situations and circumstances taken into account, there is no question that Arraez would be a far superior option to the ones mentioned in this article as far as in-house solutions go.
Everything will depend on what the Padres ask from the Yankees in negotiations. If there hasn’t been an agreement to this point, it’s probably because the two squads haven’t been able to find the right package. That could happen eventually, though. At this point, even if it’s not a perfect fit, Arraez might be the most appropriate solution for the Yankees’ second base conundrum.
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