The San Francisco Giants have a problem. They’re 33-47, sitting fourth in the NL West, and the trade deadline is coming fast. One of their most valuable trade chips, infielder Luis Arraez, is now dealing with a sore right foot.
According to MLB.com, Arraez is listed as day to day. The team hasn’t said anything about a stint on the injured list, which is a good sign. But it’s the kind of thing that makes contending teams pause before making a serious offer. A hitter like Arraez is only as dangerous as his ability to plant and turn on a fastball, and foot stuff can linger.
Arraez signed with San Francisco this past offseason and has been everything they could have hoped for at the plate. He’s slashing .321/.358/.445 with an .803 OPS, 16 doubles, six triples, and three home runs. The six triples tie his career high, which is kind of wild for a guy who mostly hits singles. He’s also stolen six bases, which is fine, but the real draw is his contact ability. The man never strikes out.
He can play second base primarily, but he’s also got time at first and third. That versatility matters for any contender that needs a bat but doesn’t have a clear opening at one spot. Think about a team like the Padres or the Red Sox — they could plug Arraez in almost anywhere.
The Giants are almost certainly going to sell. That’s just the math. They’re too far back and too flawed to make a real push. So Arraez is probably gone by the end of July, assuming his foot doesn’t turn into something worse. The next few days are important. If he’s back in the lineup this weekend against the Atlanta Braves, the trade market should stay active. If he’s still limited, teams might wait or ask for a discount.
San Francisco opens a three-game series with Atlanta on Friday night at Oracle Park. First pitch is at 10:15 PM ET. Arraez’s status for that game hasn’t been confirmed yet. The Braves are always a tough matchup, but they also have their own injury concerns and a shaky rotation. It’s not a series that changes the Giants’ long-term plans, but it’s a chance for Arraez to remind everyone why they should want him.
The trade deadline is July 30. That’s just over two weeks away. The Giants have some other pieces they could move too, but Arraez is the most interesting name in the mix. A batting title contender who can play multiple spots and comes with a reasonable contract — that doesn’t hit the market every year. The foot just complicates it a little.
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