The New York Yankees could look to add some more offense to the lineup.
New York is expected to be active on the trade front to bolster the offense, as the Yankees are looking to compete for a World Series. One area of need for the Yankees could be some better offense out of the infield, especially with Jazz Chisholm Jr. struggling.
With that, MLB analyst Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report urges New York to pursue a trade for Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants.
“Since the beginning of 2022, Arraez has an MLB-best 782 of them, good for 31 more than the next-closest player (Freddie Freeman),” Miller wrote. “As a result, he was both an All-Star and a recipient of MVP votes in each of 2022, 2023 and 2024 before dipping slightly below a .300 batting average last season.
“Meanwhile, the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Royals, Guardians and Reds have all gotten a .186 or worse batting average from the second base slot in their lineup thus far this season. They would all be salivating over the possibility of adding Arraez if that continues to be the case.”
Arraez could be the Yankees’ starting second baseman, while Chisholm could shift back to third base if needed. He would add a contact-first hitter atop the lineup, who could be on base for the sluggers like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice, among others.
Arraez is hitting .302 with 6 RBIs to begin the season. He’s a three-time batting champion and three-time All-Star.
Chisholm Jr. Off to Slow Start
Chisholm is entering the final year of his contract, and he’s off to a slow start.
Entering the year, Chisholm was expected to be a key part of the Yankees’ offense, but that hasn’t been the case. Instead, he said, once the weather starts to warm up, he will start to hit better.
“It’s cold. It’s literally all it is,” Chisholm said. “My swing feels great. When you step into that cold weather and you stand there a couple of innings, your body starts to freeze. I’m not using that as an excuse. I said the same thing last year. As soon as the weather heats up, I heat up. That’s what it is. I can’t explain why. It’s not like I’m not trying. I’m definitely trying … It’s hard to function when you can’t feel the bat.”
Chisholm is hitting .182 with 3 RBIs this season, as he’s yet to hit a home run, which is a concern for the Yankees.
Arraez Would be a Good Leadoff Hitter for Yankees
If New York does trade for Arraez, it would help bolster the lineup.
Arraez had a slow-moving market this offseason as he doesn’t have much power. However, the Yankees have enough power and need more people to get on base, which Arraez can do.
Arraez could be a leadoff hitter for the Yankees, who don’t have a true leadoff. If he can get on base at a high clip, which he does, it would set the table for Judge and the other sluggers to hit home runs with runners on base.
So, if the Yankees do end up looking for a second baseman, Arraez could be a good fit.
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