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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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San Diego Padres All-Star infielder Luis Arráez is entering his final year of team control, and could very well start next season on his fourth team in the last four years.
Arráez, who won his third consecutive batting title in 2024 with a third different team, has been discussed as a potential trade candidate as the Padres look to shed payroll entering the 2025 season.
Arráez is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and is estimated to get $13.7 million next year, per Spotrac.
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While the Padres look to clear some payroll ahead of next season, Arráez, as well as impending free agent Dylan Cease, are two players the team could look to move.
One team linked to Arráez as of late is the defending American League champion New York Yankees. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday that the Yankees have "continued to discuss Luis Arráez with San Diego."
Arráez is coming off a 2024 season in which he slashed .314/.346/.392 with 39 extra-base hits and just 29 strikeouts across 150 games. He made his third consecutive All-Star team and reached the 200-hit mark for the second straight season.
After the season, Arráez discussed an interest in remaining in San Diego long-term.
"If they want to sign me, I want to stay here. Arráez said after the team's loss in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "This is business. I understand the business. But I hope I stay here for a long time."
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It would make sense for Arráez to want some stability after he's had none of it over the last few seasons.
After the 2022 season, in which Arráez won his first batting title after hitting .316 with the Minnesota Twins, he was shipped to the Miami Marlins in a win-win trade for right-handed pitcher Pablo Lopez.
Then, he hit .354 and won his second batting title in 2023, but as Miami began a rebuild, he was shipped to the Padres in an early season trade during the 2024 season.
Now, it looked like Arráez found his long-term home in San Diego, but the team may have other plans.
While there have been reports that the Padres and Yankees are in discussions regarding a potential trade, Jomboy posted a video on social media discussing the potential deal.
Arráez commented on the post with a cryptic two-emoji caption: A smiley face and an upside-down smiley face.
While it's unclear what this means, it's interesting that Arráez is even responding to these trade rumors.
The Yankees were among the teams linked to Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux, but that ship has now sailed as he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds.
Arráez may now be the best option for the Yankees as they look to upgrade their lineup. The Yankees and Padres are no strangers to making offseason trades for players with one year left of team control (see Juan Soto). Maybe Arráez will be next, as he finds a new home for the fourth straight year.
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