"Arraez entered this winter looking to play second base full-time, and that's where the Giants intend to play him, filling out an infield that includes Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman. At a time when hitters constantly chase, slug and strike out more than ever, Arraez, a contact-oriented player who prides himself on spraying balls to vacant areas of the field, stands as the ultimate outlier."
"Arraez won three consecutive batting titles from 2022 to 2024, during which he boasted a .328 batting average and struck out a combined 106 times -- a total surpassed by 138 players in 2025 alone. In that three-year stretch, Arraez led the majors in hits (576) and strikeout rate (5.6%), but he was also tied for 130th in walks (109) and ranked 131st in slugging percentage (.426) -- a clear indication of both his strengths and his shortcomings."
"A 32-year-old left-handed hitter from Venezuela, Arraez has made three All-Star teams and won two Silver Sluggers in a career that spans seven seasons, but two teams have already traded him away -- the Minnesota Twins in January 2023, and the Miami Marlins in May 2024. The 2025 season marked Arraez's first full season with the San Diego Padres, who initially parted with three prospects to utilize him atop their star-studded lineup."
Luis Arraez agreed to a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants and is expected to play second base, joining an infield that includes Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman. Arraez is a contact-oriented hitter who won batting titles from 2022–24, hitting .328 and striking out only 106 times across that span while leading the majors in hits. He generates few walks and limited power, reflected in a .426 slugging percentage. At 32, he has three All-Star selections and two Silver Sluggers and was traded twice. The 2025 season with the Padres was his worst offensively, producing a .299 average, below-average adjusted OPS and 0.9 FanGraphs WAR. He can play first and second but has been rated subpar defensively; his bat remains his primary asset.
Read at ESPN.com
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