The San Francisco Giants have a few obvious offseason needs, but one familiar name could make sense if they decide to address second base with a proven bat: Luis Arraez.
San Francisco’s 2026 season went sideways. The club entered the year with a mix of veterans and younger players and carried playoff expectations, only to finish fourth in the NL West and well below .500.
Once the trade deadline arrived, the direction was clear, even if the Giants didn’t want to admit it. They moved Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees, Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, and Erik Miller and Carlos Gutierrez to the Boston Red Sox.
Among that group, Arraez stands out as the most logical candidate to circle back to San Francisco in 2027.
The veteran second baseman was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies, though his playoff impact never materialized because he missed the postseason with an injury. Even so, his profile still fits what the Giants could be looking for.
Arraez remains one of the best contact hitters in the game, a three-time batting champion who finished 2026 with a .310 average. Defense has been the knock on him at second base and the main reason he has bounced around, but that was not the case in San Francisco, where he played well.
That matters because the Giants need help at second base, and they need someone with more experience than Jonah Cox, who appeared in 62 games for the club this season. Arraez, who will be 30 when 2027 starts, checks that box and could be a name the Giants seriously consider when free agency opens.
The obstacle, of course, is money. San Francisco already has plenty committed to veterans like Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames, so bringing Arraez back would have to fit into a crowded payroll picture.
Still, the possibility is there. Arraez already said he would be open to an extension with the Giants before the trade deadline.
“Especially because this organization gave me a big opportunity to improve my defense. I would love to come back here.
We’re still in the season, and I don’t think about that right now. But in the future, let’s see what happens.
I’m open to listen to whatever they want to say to me," Arraez said via John Shea of The San Francisco Standard in July.
The Giants have said their top offseason priority is improving the pitching, but Arraez is a name worth watching if he reaches the free-agent market again.
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