Of all the major league players appearing in trade rumors this summer, the likeliest to move before the Aug. 3 deadline plays for the San Francisco Giants.
In an article published Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel gave Giants second baseman Luis Arráez a 95 percent chance of being traded — the highest among the top 100 trade candidates listed. Eight potential suitors were named as strong fits, including the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arráez, 29, has consistently been one of MLB’s premier contact hitters, winning three batting titles in the last four seasons. Despite his elite bat-to-ball skills, the four-time All-Star could soon be joining his fifth team in five years. He was traded by the Minnesota Twins in January 2023 and the Miami Marlins in May 2024 before the San Diego Padres let him walk in free agency this past winter.
Part of the reason Arráez bounced around the league so much was his defensive shortcomings, having posted a combined -35 Outs Above Average between 2023 and 2025. He also rarely drew walks or hit the ball hard, making him an unnatural fit for a designated hitter role. His free-agent market last offseason was tepid as a result, so he settled for a one-year, $12 million contract.
San Francisco has benefited greatly from that deal. Arráez made the All-Star team for the fourth time in his seven-year career, and through 95 games, the lefty bat owns a .323/.362/.450 (.812 OPS) slash line with four home runs and 36 RBIs. Perhaps more importantly, he has transformed into an above-average defender under the tutelage of Giants infield coach Ron Washington.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Arráez is credited with +10 Outs Above Average, which trails only St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt for the most among major league second basemen. He also ranks in the 95th percentile for fielding run value, according to Statcast.
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“Arráez has done more to improve himself in the eyes of teams than perhaps anyone on this list,” ESPN’s baseball insiders wrote about his defensive work. “Teams also understand how valuable putting the ball in play can be in the postseason, and nobody is better at that than Arráez, who is going to lead MLB in strikeout rate for the fifth consecutive season.”
Arráez recently expressed an openness to staying in San Francisco long term. However, Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News reported there have been no formal extension talks between the two sides. With the Giants sitting at 42-58 and Arráez a few months from returning to free agency, it is easy to see why a trade is the most likely outcome.
