Dissecting the Mets reported mild interest in Luis Arraez

Plus, an interesting proposal FROM Pete Alonso for the Mets

Michael Baron

Jan 11, 2025

The Mets have been exclusively offered a three-year proposal with opt outs to sign Pete Alonso (MLB Network Radio)
The Mets are slightly more inclined to potentially trade for INF Luis Arráez than the Yankees, but no trade is imminent (SNY)

Rumor Mill 💨

The A’s are still interested in adding to their starting rotation (A’s Radio Network)
The Yankees are willing to eat some of RHP Marcus Stroman’s salary in order to trade him for an infielder (New York Post)
The Orioles had a three-year contract agreement in place for RHP Jeff Hoffman before he went to the Blue Jays, but backed out over concerns in his physical (FanSided)

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What’s the deal with Luis Arraez? ✍️

There was an interesting rumor that popped up over the last 36 hours about the Mets having some interest in making a trade for Luis Arraez.

The Mets do have a need to add a utility infielder, and to me, need a natural backup for Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Yes, Luisangel Acuna proved he could plug the hole when Lindor hurt his back last September, but if he was needed long-term, I am not sure the Mets would’ve been happy with that solution. Jose Iglesias would’ve been a more capable natural backup to Lindor, but because Jeff McNeil was out with a broken hand, Iglesias was needed at second base.

That experience, to me, anyway, is why I have believed all winter Iglesias was a good baseball fit, in addition to his clubhouse and cultural presence, which proved essential for the chemistry of this team in 2024. They could of course seek other comparable and potentially less expensive players to fill that roster spot.

Now, back to Arraez. Let’s talk about how he would theoretically fit first.

Before we dive into the deep end of the pool on this, let’s just be clear their interest is clearly very mild right now, according to SNY. Just a little bit warmer than the Yankees’ interest, if you will, who reportedly don’t see a fit for Arraez. This isn’t on the burner for either club at this point, but obviously Arraez is a name on the whiteboard in their war room.

Arraez, 27, isn’t a natural shortstop. He also doesn’t profile as a utility player who is good for 300 or so at-bats in a season. If he’s healthy, he would be an everyday second baseman for the Mets. Of course, the Mets could be interested in Arraez as a first baseman if they’re unable to sign Pete Alonso, but I only mentioned that because Arraez is capable of playing first base.

He does one thing well, albeit extremely well, and that is make contact and get hits. He has averaged 200 hits per 162 games played in his career. He is a .323 career hitter and a three-time batting champion, winning three straight with three different teams beginning in 2022 with the Twins, 2023 with the Marlins, and 2024 with both the Marlins and the Padres. He also puts up generally good run values against off-speed and spin pitches, which is something the Mets struggled with in 2024 and need to get a lot better at doing in 2025.

But Arraez doesn’t walk a lot. He doesn’t hit for any power. He isn’t a very good defensive player, and he doesn’t have a lot of speed. Again, Arraez does one thing well and that is make contact and get hits, but it’s not as if he’s making a lot of hard contact and barreling up, either, and that’s an indicator his game might not age particularly well.

Arraez is a fascinating throwback player who generally gets discounted in today’s game. In a way, he’s viewed as what McNeil was in the early part of his career only without the power and versatility to go with it. Arraez, of course, has won three batting titles, and that accomplishment should not be discounted or under-appreciated. And as long as he’s hitting, he gets on base, and that’s obviously what matters the most.

He’s a lot of fun to watch hit, and I am always watching Arraez go through his hitting drills on Instagram. He’s a student of hitting, to say the least. There aren’t many better at handling inside pitches in the game, if any at all.

But let’s just say the Mets grow more interested in acquiring Arraez and they figure this thing out with Alonso.

Should the Mets be installing a player like Arraez at second base over Acuña, and/or block the position altogether from their prospects, even if its for a year?

Is acquiring Arraez and then trading McNeil wise (I assume that would be the likely path)? For luxury tax purposes, Arraez is expected to make $14-15 million through arbitration, whereas McNeil will make $15.75 million in year three of four of his extension with the Mets. So it’s not as if Arraez gives the Mets a significant break financially, although Arraez can be a free agent after the 2025 season, while they would have control over McNeil through the 2026 season (club option for 2027). So, such a move would open second base completely after 2025 assuming they weren’t interested in retaining Arraez.

Even so, it’s probably not the best possible baseball move either considering Arraez is a below-average defensive player. McNeil is just better there and is so versatile, and was actually more valuable than Arraez last season despite his struggles (McNeil was worth 1.3 fWAR, while Arraez was worth 1.1).

In the end, while Arraez might have some intrigue, all of this would certainly explain why the Mets’ interest might only be exploratory at best right now. Perhaps if they can sign Alonso and bring in another outfielder, that would open the door for the Mets to seriously entertain offers for both McNeil and Starling Marte, but it’s just hard to see the Mets turnaround and get Arraez, unless they were to view him as a stopgap for their pipeline of prospects at the position.

But again, that’s a lot of moving parts that have to go exactly right to even entertain Arraez as a realistic possibility.

Make no mistake - anything can happen and the Mets may see a way to make this work that we can’t, which is fine. And I can absolutely see the Padres trading Arraez and a bunch of other players right now, considering the turmoil at the very top of the organization.

That’s my disclaimer, in case I am wrong :)

Around the League 🚩

The Blue Jays signed RHP Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal (official)
The Pirates signed LHP Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract (official)
RHP Colin Rea agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Cubs (MLBTR)
The White Sox signed C Omar Narvaez to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training (official)