Padres' Luis Arraez Signs $12 Million Free Agent Deal with Giants, Lays Low on Strikeouts
Luis Arraez, a three-time MLB All-Star, has agreed to a one-year contract worth $12 million with the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old infielder is leaving the Padres after two seasons in San Diego and will likely play second base for the Giants.
Arraez's signing comes as the Giants look to break out of their recent stretch of mediocre seasons in the tough NL West. Last season, he slashed .292/.327/.392 with 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts, and his strikeout rate was a meager 21 times in 675 plate appearances.
The switch-hitter is known for his unique approach to hitting, often taking an earlier style of baseball that emphasizes hitting the ball hard in the air. His 3.1 percent strikeout rate last year was the smallest by any player with at least 600 plate appearances since Bill Buckner in 1980.
Arraez will join a lineup that should be tough on right-handed pitchers, featuring two left-handed sluggers, Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge. The Giants have been signing free agents aggressively this offseason, with center fielder Harrison Bader agreeing to a $20.5 million deal earlier this week.
The move marks a significant upgrade for the Giants' infield, which has struggled in recent years. With Arraez on board, San Francisco is looking to make some noise in the NL West and prove they can contend after a string of mediocre seasons.
Luis Arraez, a three-time MLB All-Star, has agreed to a one-year contract worth $12 million with the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old infielder is leaving the Padres after two seasons in San Diego and will likely play second base for the Giants.
Arraez's signing comes as the Giants look to break out of their recent stretch of mediocre seasons in the tough NL West. Last season, he slashed .292/.327/.392 with 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts, and his strikeout rate was a meager 21 times in 675 plate appearances.
The switch-hitter is known for his unique approach to hitting, often taking an earlier style of baseball that emphasizes hitting the ball hard in the air. His 3.1 percent strikeout rate last year was the smallest by any player with at least 600 plate appearances since Bill Buckner in 1980.
Arraez will join a lineup that should be tough on right-handed pitchers, featuring two left-handed sluggers, Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge. The Giants have been signing free agents aggressively this offseason, with center fielder Harrison Bader agreeing to a $20.5 million deal earlier this week.
The move marks a significant upgrade for the Giants' infield, which has struggled in recent years. With Arraez on board, San Francisco is looking to make some noise in the NL West and prove they can contend after a string of mediocre seasons.
finally signing someone who knows how to hit without swinging at air like a moron lol bill buckner would be proud 
12 mil is def worth it for that kind of production from the #2 spot in the lineup, i mean we all know arraez is gonna make some noise in the nwl west 
Anyway, I guess Luis Arraez is trying to make up for being boring with that sweet $12 mil deal 
. The Giants need all the help they can get after those subpar seasons. Devers and Eldridge are cool, but not exactly a dynamic duo 
. Still, it's like San Francisco just said "hey, we're back" in the NL West 
. Luis Arraez is the real deal 
!
️ he's got skills for days, and with Devers & Eldridge on board, they're gonna be UNSTOPPABLE 
. Arraez is like the anti-strikeout king, he's always taking that extra base 
. and $20.5 million for Harrison Bader? crazy! 
what's with the giants' lineup though? have they got any other power hitters besides rafael devers? 
️. The Giants have been quiet on the market for a while now, so this is definitely some good news. Plus, he's not too expensive at $12 million, which is always a win for the fans 
!
I mean, who wouldn't want Luis Arraez on their team? He's like a hitting machine, you know? 
And let's be real, 21 times in 675 plate appearances is basically a strikeout record – that's insane! 
he's got skills, we all know that. but the giants have been trying to get over this hump for years now... how much time do they really need to make some noise in the nl west? 2025 is gonna be a big year for them 
... I mean, $12 million for Arraez? That's just crazy! The guy's got skills don't get me wrong, but $12 million is a small-town salary, not some big league haul 
. And what about the impact on the farm system? The Giants are already signing everyone in sight and it's like they're trying to win the whole thing this year... I'm worried we'll see a bunch of mediocre players taking up valuable roster spots instead of grooming some real talent from the minors 
.