Luis Arráez brings a rare skill set to the Giants’ lineup - elite contact hitting in an era increasingly defined by strikeouts and launch angles. He’s a three-time batting champ, and his ability to put the ball in play consistently is something San Francisco hasn’t seen since Marco Scutaro’s magical .362 run back in 2012.
That kind of bat-to-ball ability doesn’t just show up - it changes the shape of an offense. But as much as Arráez adds with the bat, the Giants are taking a calculated risk with the glove.
The Defensive Trade-Off
The Giants landed Arráez on a one-year deal, and part of the reason they were able to do so is that he was reportedly insistent on returning to second base. That’s his natural position, but it’s also where his defensive limitations have been most exposed. During his brief stint with the Padres, he played mostly first base - a move that made sense considering his defensive track record.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Arráez has struggled defensively. Since debuting in 2019, he owns a -60 Outs Above Average (OAA), the worst mark in all of Major League Baseball over that span.
That’s not just “below average” - that’s a glaring red flag. And now, the Giants are moving him back to one of the most demanding positions on the field, all while trying to re-establish a pitching-and-defense identity.
It’s a bold move, and one that could have real consequences for a groundball-heavy staff.
A New Look at First Base
Arráez’s move back to second means Rafael Devers, who’s never been known for his glove at third, is now penciled in as the regular first baseman. While the eye test suggests Devers handled the transition reasonably well, there are limits to what he can offer defensively.
His hands are reliable, but his range is limited, and his sprint speed sits in the 5th percentile - think Bengie Molina territory. That’s not ideal, especially when paired with a second baseman who’s already a known liability in the field.
On the left side of the infield, the Giants have some stability. Matt Chapman and Willy Adames are expected to lock things down at third and short, respectively.
Both are plus defenders with strong track records, and they’ll help balance things out. But even with that duo, the right side of the infield - Arráez and Devers - is going to give back a chunk of that defensive value.
Options and Insulation
There are a few contingency plans in play. Casey Schmitt, for one, could serve as a late-game defensive replacement.
He’s a versatile infielder who can competently handle multiple spots on the diamond. If he’s not moved in a trade for pitching - a real possibility - he’ll be a key piece in managing the defensive damage.
Then there’s Eldridge, who’s expected to see some time at first base as the season progresses. But defensively, he’s likely a step below even Devers, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Between Arráez, Devers, Schmitt, and Eldridge, the Giants will be mixing and matching in hopes of finding the right balance between offense and defense.
Where Does This Infield Rank?
We don’t have precise, forward-looking defensive metrics like we do for offense or pitching, but we can make some educated projections based on past performance. According to the Fielding Bible, the average team DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) across first, second, third, and shortstop in 2025 was -27 - a reminder that being even average in MLB infield defense is harder than it looks.
The Cubs led the way with a +37 mark, while the Nationals brought up the rear at -40. The Giants were tied for 10th at +10, buoyed largely by strong second base play from Schmitt, Koss, and Fitzgerald.
But that picture changes with Arráez taking over at second. In just 421 innings there over the past two seasons, he posted a -5 DRS.
Project that out to a full season - accounting for off days, DH stints, and defensive replacements - and you’re looking at around -10 DRS from second base alone. Combine that with neutral contributions elsewhere in the infield, and the Giants’ projected DRS drops to -10 - good for around 21st in the league based on last year’s numbers.
Not catastrophic, but a steep decline from where they were.
It gets even murkier when you look at OAA. The projected infield group comes in at -14 OAA - and that would actually be a net positive if not for Arráez’s projected -18 dragging the total down. That’s the kind of number that can swing tight games, especially for a team that wants to win with pitching and defense.
The Bigger Picture
The Giants will still have strength behind the plate with Patrick Bailey, and the outfield defense should take a step forward with Harrison Bader in center and Jung Hoo Lee shifting to right. But with so many groundballs likely coming off opposing bats, the infield defense becomes a critical piece of the puzzle.
Luis Arráez will hit - that’s a given. But the less time he spends at second base, the better the Giants’ run prevention outlook becomes.
It’s a classic case of weighing elite offensive production against defensive liabilities. And for a team trying to compete in a division where every run matters, that balance will be under the microscope all season long.