Padres' Luis Arraez: Collects three hits in spring game
Rotowire
Arraez went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a stolen base in Friday's Cactus League win over Texas.
Arraez is swinging a hot bat this spring, batting .433 over 30 at-bats. He did a couple things Friday that are out of the norm for him, as he both hit a homer and stole a base. Arraez had just four long balls and nine thefts over 672 regular-season plate appearances last year, which are reasons why he's often taken outside of the top 150 in fantasy drafts. That said, Arraez is as dependable as it gets when it comes to providing elite batting average, as evidenced by his run of three consecutive batting titles.
Arraez said Wednesday that "I feel like I got a new thumb" following surgery in October to repair a torn ligament, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
Arraez tore the UCL in his left thumb on a slide on June 25 and played through "a lot" of pain before eventually undergoing offseason surgery. He managed to win his third straight batting title in 2024, although Arraez's .314 average in the regular season was down 21 points and his slugging percentage dropped 53 points from over the previous two years. The 27-year-old could have a mini bounce-back 2025 season, although he is likely to remain largely a one-category specialist.
Padres' Luis Arraez: Will play first base this season
Rotowire
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said Thursday that he sees Arraez as the team's first baseman this season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Manager Mike Shildt also added of Arraez and Jake Cronenworth that "they're everyday guys that'll be on the field," implying that Arraez is expected to be the everyday first baseman rather than the designated hitter. Cronenworth, meanwhile, is expected to settle in at second base. The Padres don't currently have a clear favorite for DH duties, but they could use the spot to rotate players or potentially acquire some help from outside the organization.
Arraez and the Padres agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Arraez will receive a raise of nearly $3.5 million for his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2025. The 27-year-old took a step back in 2024 with a .314/.346/.392 slash line in 150 regular-season games between Miami and San Diego, though he still won the National League batting title for the second straight year. Arraez underwent surgery in October to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, but he's expected to enter spring training at full health.
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