Luis Arraez is one of many San Diego Padres free agents set to hit the market.
From an offensive perspective, Luis Arraez stands out as arguably the most crucial player the Padres should prioritize retaining. His impact at the plate has been significant, with a strong case to be made that he’s the best pure contact hitter in baseball. Arraez rarely strikes out and has delivered consistently high batting averages, hitting .317 and .292 in consecutive seasons with San Diego.
However, his game isn’t without flaws. Defensively, his versatility is limited, restricting where he can be placed in the field. While his ability to avoid strikeouts and rack up singles is a clear strength, his lack of power is a concern—he’s managed just 12 home runs over the past two seasons. Additionally, he’s not a factor on the basepaths, offering little in terms of stolen bases.
When asked whether Arraez wanted to return to San Diego and re-sign with the Padres, he was quite clear on where he stood with the franchise.
“One hundred percent, yes. This team is special,” Arraez said. “They give me a lot of opportunity. Especially the fans. The fans support me a lot and I would like to thank them.
“When further pressed on whether it’s a possibility he’ll return, Arraez said said “one hundred percent, yes.”
At 28, Luis Arraez is understandably looking for a multi-year contract that offers long-term security. As mentioned, he’s a polarizing figure—elite in terms of contact hitting, but limited in power and defensive versatility. From the Padres’ perspective, that raises tough questions about roster construction moving forward.
Given the current core of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and rising talent Jackson Merrill, San Diego might be better served targeting a slugging corner infielder to complement the lineup’s power rather than a high-contact, low-slug option like Arraez.
Additionally, the team must weigh Arraez’s potential extension against their pressing pitching needs. Committing significant money to retain him could limit their financial flexibility to re-sign key starters like Michael King or Dylan Cease, or to pursue another proven arm such as Ranger Suárez in free agency.
Given his popularity inside the clubhouse, it’ll be very interesting to see what sort of deal Arraez may get out on the open market. The Padres likely would want to bring him back — but more so on a team-friendly deal.
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