The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, pending a physical. The 28-year-old infielder is expected to bolster the team's second base position after a season of underwhelming performance there. Arraez brings elite contact skills but faces questions about his defense.
The San Francisco Giants addressed their need for a second-base upgrade by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth $12 million with free-agent infielder Luis Arraez, according to reports from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand and ESPN. The agreement, which remains pending a physical and has not yet been confirmed by the team, comes after the Giants explored trades for players like Brendan Donovan, Nico Hoerner, and CJ Abrams during the offseason.
Arraez, a three-time All-Star and batting title winner, has established himself as one of baseball's premier contact hitters. Over seven major league seasons with the Twins, Marlins, and Padres, he boasts a .317 career batting average, the highest among active players. In 2025 with San Diego, he hit .292 with a .719 OPS, eight home runs, and the lowest strikeout rate (3.1%) among qualified hitters. He led the National League in hits for the second straight year, showcasing the bat-to-ball skills that align with the priorities of Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey, himself a former batting champion.
However, Arraez's profile is not without limitations. His power is modest, with a career-low 99 OPS+ last season, and he ranked last in hard-hit rate at 16.7%. Defensively, he has struggled, posting -35 Outs Above Average since 2023, the second-worst mark in the majors. Primarily playing first base for the Padres, Arraez last focused on second base full-time in 2023. The Giants plan to install him there, potentially rotating in Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss to offset his glove issues.
San Francisco's second basemen ranked 26th in OPS at .617 in 2025, combining for poor production from players like Tyler Fitzgerald, Schmitt, and Koss. Arraez's signing should improve the lineup, which projects to feature Matt Chapman at third, Willy Adames at shortstop, and Rafael Devers at first. This move marks the second free-agent position player addition this offseason, following center fielder Harrison Bader's two-year, $20.5 million pact.
