If the Yankees are serious about Luis Arráez, the path there gets complicated fast.
Arráez would slide into the lineup as a pure contact upgrade, but the fit on the roster is the real issue. Right now, he’d rank as the Yankees’ third-best hitter by OPS, trailing Ben Rice and Aaron Judge, who hasn’t played since a series in late May against the Oakland Athletics.
The bat is appealing. The defensive puzzle is not.
That’s why the New York Post’s Jon Heyman’s note matters. He wrote, "The Yankees like Luis Arráez, who'll go somewhere," but added, "But it's hard to see how he fits there positionally."
That’s the whole dilemma. The Yankees already have Jazz Chisholm Jr. holding down the spot, and carrying both players doesn’t make much sense. If Arráez is the target, then Chisholm is the piece that would have to move.
And there would be a market for him. Even in a season where he’s underperformed, Chisholm still has 16 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and 8 Outs Above Average at second base. With so many contenders clustered near the top of the standings, a deal wouldn’t be hard to imagine.
There are six teams in first place right now. Three of those teams - not counting Chisholm’s current club - are within three games of first.
The picture gets even busier when you widen it to the wild-card race. Six teams currently hold a wild-card spot in both leagues, and seven more are within three games.
One possible landing spot is St. Louis.
The Cardinals have JJ Wetherholt at second base, but there’s a hole at third, and Chisholm has played there before if they want to get creative. Their third basemen have combined for a 77 wRC+, while Chisholm’s 99 would be an upgrade.
If St. Louis were willing to make that kind of move, the Cardinals could send back hard-throwing closer Riley O'Brien, whose sinkers can reach triple digits. That kind of swap would address needs on both sides.
Once Chisholm is out of the picture, the Yankees could feel better about turning to the Giants for Arráez. He doesn’t bring Chisholm’s power, but his hit tool is exactly the sort of steady presence that lengthens a lineup. This year, Arráez is hitting .320/.359/.446 with a 120 wRC+.
There’s also a defensive bonus. Arráez has 10 OAA at second base this season, and his career mark at the position is -26 OAA, even with what has been a renaissance defensive year.
Chisholm’s talent isn’t in question. His defense and speed are obvious assets.
The issue has been consistency, especially this season. Arráez is the opposite: less pop, more certainty.
For the Yankees, that would mean choosing contact over power, and that kind of roster shuffle is exactly the sort of move they should be weighing if they want to separate themselves in the American League and chase their 28th championship.
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