The San Francisco Giants have made another significant move to bolster their offense, following the recent acquisition of Harrison Bader. The team has officially signed three-time batting champion Luis Arráez to a one-year, $12 million contract. This move aims to add more firepower to an already competitive lineup.

Arráez, who is just 28 years old, brings a strong offensive track record to the team. He has a lifetime batting average of .317 and a .777 OPS. His accomplishments include winning an American League batting title with Minnesota in 2022, hitting .316, and then earning his first National League title by hitting .356 with Miami. He followed that up by recording 200 hits between Miami and San Diego and winning another batting crown with a .314 average. Notably, he is the only player to have won titles in both leagues in consecutive years.

As a second baseman, Arráez has also played at DH, third base, and left field. However, his defensive capabilities are not considered top-tier. Statcast has placed him in the bottom 4% of fielding range in recent seasons and recorded him at -9 in Outs Above Average.

From a batting perspective, Arráez is a left-handed hitter who doesn’t possess a lot of power. In 154 games with the Padres last year, he hit eight home runs. His postseason performance has been less impressive, with a .224 average. Despite this, he led the league in hits last year with 181 and consistently walks more than he strikes out, averaging 44 walks and 41 strikeouts per year over his career. He also averages 84 runs per season and could potentially serve as the team’s leadoff hitter.

With Arráez on board, the Giants could field a powerful lineup that includes players such as:

• Arreaz
• Willy Adames
• Rafael Devers
• Matt Chapman
• Jung Hoo Lee
• Heliot Ramos
• Bryce Eldridge
• Bader
• Patrick Bailey

This lineup has the potential to significantly increase the team’s run production compared to last year when they finished 17th in MLB in runs scored.

Arráez’s signing aligns with the preferences of the Giants’ president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, who has shown a clear focus on players who make consistent contact at the plate. This preference was evident in last year’s draft and midseason trades.

Casey Schmitt, the incumbent second baseman, may now be a potential trade piece. A fan and clubhouse favorite, Schmitt is an excellent defensive player, particularly at third base, but he is blocked at that position by Matt Chapman, a Platinum Glove winner. Schmitt has shown promise at second base, and with Ron Washington joining the team as an infield coach, there was hope for a defensive improvement. However, he never fully adapted to playing out of position at shortstop during parts of the 2023-24 season.

Schmitt has been a trade target for teams needing a third baseman in the past two winters. With Arráez now in the fold, the Giants might consider moving Schmitt to address other needs, such as acquiring a closer or a good young starter. Backup catcher is also an area where the team could look to add depth.

Schmitt has a .228 batting average with 23 home runs in 225 games over the past three years. On June 13-14, 2023, he became the first Giants player to hit grand slams in consecutive games. The first was the game-winning blow against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, and the next day’s came in a loss off a position player, Kiké Hernández.

Currently rehabbing after December surgery to remove a bone spur in his left wrist, Schmitt has already started hitting and should be close to full fitness for spring training. During a media session at the team’s FanFest in San Jose two weeks ago, he expressed optimism about his recovery.