Luis Arraez Wants to Stay at Second Base, Even If He Gets Traded

Updated July 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m. ET

The Big News from Philadelphia

Reporting from Philadelphia – Luis Arraez is fully prepared to be traded by the time the August 3 trade deadline (the last day teams can swap players) comes around. But he has one clear message for any team that might want him:

“It’s going to be second base. I don’t like to go back to first base. I prepared my mind, I prepared my body only to play second base." – Luis Arraez

In kid-friendly terms: he’s okay with moving to a new team, but only if they let him play second base (a defensive spot in the middle of the infield), not first base or as a designated hitter (a player who just bats and doesn’t play defense).

Who Is Luis Arraez? (Explained Simply)

Think of a playground superstar who rarely misses when batting:

• He is a three-time batting champion. That means in three different years, he had the best hitting average in the league (he got hits more often than almost everyone else).
• He plays for the San Francisco Giants, a team that has won 41 games and lost 55 – not a good year. He is the lone bright spot on that team.
• He is also getting ready to test the free agent market this winter (that’s when his contract can end and he can pick a new team to sign with).

Why Second Base Matters to Him

In baseball, some positions are seen as more valuable if you also hit well. Luis used to play:

• First base (a corner spot)
• Designated hitter (DH) (only bats, no glove work)

Because he doesn’t hit many home runs (big long balls), people thought those roles made him less useful. But now he’s different.

How He Became a Top Second Baseman

Here’s the simple step-by-step:

1. The Giants brought in an infield guru (a super-teacher for fielding) named Ron Washington.
2. Ron taught Luis how to play second base the right way.
3. Luis trained his mind and body to become Gold Glove-caliber there – meaning he’s now good enough at defense to maybe win the Gold Glove award (given to the best fielders).
4. He’s still elite with the bat, hitting .330 (getting a hit in about a third of his turns), so his total value shot up.

Important Point: Luis has already earned a stat called WAR of 3.0 in just over half a season. WAR means “Wins Above Replacement” – it estimates how many extra games his team wins because he plays instead of a random backup. His 3.0 is already more than his previous two full seasons combined (2.6 WAR), even though back then he collected 381 hits for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres! The difference? Those years he was stuck at first base or DH, which counted against his value.

The Giants’ Tough Season and the Trade Clock

The Giants had hoped Luis would help them reach the playoffs (the end-of-year tournament) like the Padres did after trading for him in 2024 (San Diego made the playoffs both seasons he was there). But under first-year manager Tony Vitello, 2025 has gone wrong in many ways.

• The Giants closed the symbolic first half of the season by winning three of four games against Colorado.
• But they’d need a July miracle to avoid becoming sellers (a team that trades away good players because they won’t make the playoffs) by the deadline.

Arraez’s Feelings About Possibly Leaving

Luis says he’s trying to stay focused and not think about a trade because it’s hard mentally:

• He feels like family with teammates Willy Adames, Raffy Devers, Heliot Ramos, and Logan Webb. “They open the door for me,” he said.
• “It’s hard to leave, you know? But it’s a business.”

That means next month, he and whatever new team he joins will see how this second-base plan works out.

Summary

Luis Arraez is a hitting wizard who remade himself into a gold-standard second baseman with help from coach Ron Washington. He expects to be traded by August 3 but insists any deal keeps him at second base. His new defensive skill has boosted his value (3.0 WAR already this season), even as the Giants struggle. He’s sad about leaving his “family” of teammates but knows baseball is a business. Next month, a new team may learn exactly what he means.

FAQ

Q1: What is a trade deadline in baseball?
A: It’s like a cutoff date (here, August 3) when teams must stop trading players with each other until the next season.

Q2: What does “WAR” mean, and why is 3.0 good?
A: WAR stands for “Wins Above Replacement.” It’s a number that shows how many extra games a team wins because a player is playing instead of a substitute. A 3.0 in half a season is fantastic!

Q3: Why is second base better for Luis than first base or DH?
A: Second basemen do more defensive chores, so a great hitter there is prized. First basemen and DHs are usually expected to hit many home runs, which Luis doesn’t do.

Q4: What is a “Gold Glove-caliber” player?
A: It means the player defends so well they could win the Gold Glove, an annual award for the best fielders at each position.

Q5: What does “free agent market” mean?
A: When a player’s contract ends, they can talk to any team and sign a new deal – like job shopping in the winter.