Surprising Giants Infielder a Top Trade Candidate; Blue Jays Could Be a Fit
The Toronto Blue Jays prize two traits from their position players more than most teams: the ability to make contact and the ability to field the baseball - especially at the key defensive positions.
The San Francisco Giants have one player who can help the Blue Jays in both regards. And at 22-32 through May 25, their chances of making the postseason with Luis Arraez are all but indistinguishable from their chances of making the postseason without him.
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Arraez, 29, has long been one of baseball’s best contact hitters. His 4.0 percent strikeout rate would make a dead-ball era hitter proud; his .318 batting average through May 25 is fourth-best in MLB.
What’s new is Arraez’s defensive prowess. A second baseman early in his career with the Minnesota Twins, Arraez moved off the position almost entirely during his time with the San Diego Padres (2024-25).
In San Francisco, Arraez has been a quick study under veteran infield coach Ron Washington. His nine Outs Above Average (per Statcast) were tied with Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner for the MLB lead at the position through May 25.
The Blue Jays’ primary second baseman, Ernie Clement, has been worth minus-4 OAA, tied for the second-worst mark in MLB at the position. Defensive Runs Saved also rates Clement as a below-average defender at the position.
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Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Clement has experience at every infield position. His .765 OPS (111 OPS+) would be a marked improvement over George Springer, who owns a .638 OPS as Toronto’s primary DH.
Unfortunately for Toronto, Arraez figures to be a hot commodity as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches. Plenty of teams will be interested in a hot-hitting, slick-fielding middle infielder on an expiring contract.
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Arraez is eligible for free agency after this season, after signing a one-year, $12 million contract with the Giants.
That deal looks like a bargain for San Francisco. But in a season gone south, the Giants’ best hope might be to turn Arraez into a future big leaguer via trade. The Blue Jays, who value Arraez’s skill set more than most clubs, are a good fit.
Toronto is 25-29 after winning the American League pennant and coming within one game of winning the World Series in 2025.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 8:17 PM.