The New York Yankees are looking to upgrade their infield. It’s a move they have been looking to make for quite some time, even dating back to the offseason.
Now that the trade deadline is fast approaching, general manager Brian Cashman knows he doesn’t have a choice but to make the move now.
There are a lot of options available for the Yankees, but former general manager Jim Bowden believes Luis Arraez from the San Diego Padres is the best option for the Bronx Bombers.
“The Yankees would like an offensive upgrade for both DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza and can do so at either second or third base since Jazz Chisholm Jr. is willing to play either position,” wrote Bowden. … “That might leave Arraez as the best realistic fit. Arraez is not a great defender, but he’s won a batting title each of the past three years and would create extra traffic on the bases for New York’s sluggers to drive home.”
Arraez’s bat would fit in well at Yankee Stadium, as he would thrive in a stadium with a short porch in right field at just 314 feet. As Bowden pointed out, his defense has been questionable, which has led the Padres to primarily play him at first base.
Even if Arraez’s defense were to improve at Yankee Stadium, Bowden mentions there is one other caveat that may impact a trade.
“I’m just not sure how the Yankees and Padres would fit as trade partners,” wrote Bowden.
This doesn’t come as a surprise as the Padres are still second in the National League West and trying to close the gap between themselves and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Padres general manager A.J. Preller may only be willing to move Arraez if he believes a long-term extension is completely off the table.
Arraez being a rental complicates things further as the Yankees may not want to cough up what the Padres would ask for in a trade. The Padres haven’t made any indication they will be moving on from expiring players at the deadline, but a lot could change between now and July 31.
If the Yankees can find a deal to get Arraez in pinstripes, he would presumably slot in at second base while Jazz Chisholm Jr. would take over the hot corner.
