Yankees predicted to add 3x Batting Title winner in blockbuster trade talks: Report

The New York Yankees were reportedly considering making a move for Gavin Lux to play second base, but the Cincinnati Reds swooped in to pick him up first. The Yankees are reportedly pivoting away from a high-priced third-base addition and will leave Jazz Chisholm Jr. there.

That leaves a second baseman to be picked up, and the latest report is that the Yanks are interested in swinging a trade for three-time Batting Title winner Luis Arraez.

The San Diego Padres just acquired him at the beginning of 2024, and they're likely to move off him less than a year later. The Yankees could be the recipient and Arraez's fourth team in four years.

Per Jeff Passan, the Yankees "continue to explore ways to upgrade their infield" after losing Gleyber Torres on a one-year deal to the Detroit Tigers. The organization didn't extend him a qualifying offer, so it likely expected him to leave.

Arraez would play second base and would probably bat leadoff in front of Aaron Judge and/or Cody Bellinger. Jon Morosi reported that the trade is a possibility but is far from definitive at this point.

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Where Luis Arraez would fit with the Yankees

The Yankees have made a concerted effort to improve their defense across the board after the disastrous fifth inning that sealed their World Series loss last October.

Luis Arraez doesn't fit that, as he recorded -3 DRS at second base last year and had a -11.7 UZR/150. The defensive metrics are bad. However, Arraez has something most Yankees don't: a high contact rate.

Luis Arraez is on the Yankees' radar (Imagn)

His 4.3% K rate would've led the Yankees among all hitters with at least three plate appearances. The next-best rate was Alex Verdugo at 15%, who struck out more than three times as often as Arraez.

If the Yankees do make the trade, here's what their lineup might look like:

1. Luis Arraez, 2B
2. Aaron Judge, RF
3. Cody Bellinger, CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
6. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
7. Austin Wells, C
8. Anthony Volpe, SS
9. Jasson Dominguez, LF

If they don't make the deal, then they'll probably have Oswaldo Cabrera play second and will have to find a different option for the leadoff spot in the lineup.