"There are limitations to Luis Arraez" - Padres insider skeptical about Friars committing $14,000,000 to 3x batting champion

The Padres are faced with important decisions regarding several players heading into free agency or arbitration this winter. One of the big names on that list is Luis Arraez who secured his third consecutive batting title this year. However, not all members of the Pares community are eager to splurge money on the Venezuelan.

Arraez was traded from the Miami Marlins to the San Diego Padres in May. Next season will be the final year of his arbitration, but he can forgo that and sign elsewhere. This decision also depends on whether San Diego have long term plans for Arraez beyond his free agency that starts after 2025.

As per insider Lee Hacksaw Hamilton, while Arraez is one of the best contact hitters in the sport, his limited defensive prowess do not make him ideal for a $14 million contract, the amount he can get to following abitration.

"We know Luis Arraez won the National League batting title again at .318. We also know that there are limitations to him. He's not great with the glove, he's kind of a man without a position, doesn't run the bases very well, does not hit for any power whatsoever. He made $8 million last year."

"Miami paid the entire contract last year, the Padres take on the entire contract this year and with arbitration he can could go as much to $14 million. So the burning question for the Padres is, despite the fact that this guy can swing the stick, despite the fact that this guy's kind of undisciplined, despite the fact that this guy is limited in other facets of his game, are you willing to pay somebody $14 million to be a single sitter, big issue," Hamilton said. [1:24]

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Luis Arraez has expressed desire to stay in San Diego

When asked about his future at the end of the regular season by MLB dot-com insider AJ Cassawell, Luis Arraez was certain that he would want to stay and don the Padres jersey for the years to come.

“It means a lot of good things,” Arraez said. “If they want to sign me, I want to stay here. This is business. I understand the business. But I hope I stay here for a long time.”

Whether Arraez is in the long term plans for the organization or not, it is true that he had an exceptionally poor walk rate (9%) and an even worse ISO, the power hitting metric (0.78 ISO). Only time will tell if his batting titles are able to salvage a contract for him.