The New York Yankees have had quite the busy offseason thus far, and they don’t appear to be done just yet. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees are currently seeking a trade to add a second baseman to their roster. Specifically, they inquired about Luis Arráez of the San Diego Padres and Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lux is now off the board after being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. With the departure of Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees are in need of a second baseman. They could opt to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. over to his natural position, but that would leave third base open. Either way, New York needs another infielder to fill out the lineup.
Yankees Looking to Trade for Second Baseman
Arráez vs. Lux
Neither player stands out in terms of their defensive skills, but Arráez is notably the better hitter. Though Arráez is known for rarely striking out and always hitting for a high average, that’s about all the three-time batting champion provides. With an OPS of .790 and 28 home runs in his entire career, the Yankees could very easily overspend on Arráez, who has one year left on his contract and will earn $13.7 million. Still, his consistent average and contact skills would easily be an upgrade from their current situation at second.
Luis Arráez since 2022:
.328 BA
.371 OBP
.797 OPS
576 H
164 RBI pic.twitter.com/cAshWDMq3I— LGY (@letsgoyanks_) January 6, 2025
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The grass would not have been much greener on the other side. Lux has a career OPS of .709 (.703 last season), and produced a 2.1 brWAR over 139 games last season. His speed is a plus, and his defense is better than that of Arráez. But with the 27-year-old on his way to Cincinnati, the Yankees will have to seek out another second baseman.
The Return Package
The Padres may want to get something in return for Arráez before he hits free agency next offseason. They would also clear a lot of cap space in dealing him, which lowers his price in terms of prospects.
The Yankees already dealt one of their most prized prospects, Caleb Durbin, in the Devin Williams trade. New York could look to trade their sixth starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman, as his potential role next season remains unclear. However, it’s unlikely that either team would take on his $18 million salary. Oswald Peraza, a once highly-touted prospect who is out of minor league options, is also a potential trade chip. The infielder hasn’t had a true crack at the majors, and a change of scenery could be beneficial for both sides.
The Takeaway
With Gleyber Torres gone, the Yankees have to fill in second base. Otherwise, they may be forced to slot in an aged DJ LeMahieu or an unreliable prospect in the infield. They could also move Chisholm back to his natural position, but then they would have to pursue a third baseman (which isn’t totally preposterous). A deal for Arráez or another alternative would solidify the Yankees infield and make their lineup much more formidable come next season.
Photo Credit: © Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
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