Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, through which we study potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Crimson Sox ought to pursue them and what it might take to land them. Subsequent up, a contact hitter who may change the dynamic of the Crimson Sox lineup.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
He’s Luis Arraez. He’s the primary participant in MLB historical past to win three consecutive batting titles enjoying for 3 completely different groups (2022-2024). Most not too long ago, he was with the Padres on a one-year deal to keep away from arbitration after enjoying in San Diego for many of 2024 . Earlier than that, he was in Miami, the place he recorded a seemingly unreal .354 batting common. The utility infielder, who turns 29 shortly after Opening Day 2026, spent the primary portion of his profession with Minnesota.
Sure, simply by advantage of his hit device, although another parts of his recreation downgrade this to a “yeah, he’s satisfactory, I assume.”
Let’s checklist some current batting common champions and hypothetically ask in the event that they’re any good. Aaron Choose. Trea Turner. Bobby Witt Jr. Juan Soto. Had sufficient? And, but, the reply to this query might be so polarizing in Arraez’s case. Arraez is superior at extending innings, making pitchers work, and placing the ball in play. He led the league in 2025 in lowest strikeout proportion, at 3.1%. The following lowest was Jacob Wilson, at 7.5%. That’s an enormous deal. He’s generationally good as a contact hitter and at grinding out at-bats till he will get one which he likes and makes contact. He’s additionally received a profession OBP of .363 and put up a .393 mark simply 3 seasons in the past. The final time the Crimson Sox had somebody get on base that a lot was 2018 (Mookie Betts and JD Martinez). However Arraez’s energy is unprecedented, having solely reached 10 residence runs as soon as and rating within the decrease first percentile in barrel proportion and exhausting hit proportion in 2025.
I’ve lengthy thought that the Crimson Sox want veterans within the infield to boost the younger expertise on a group that leads the league in errors. Effectively, Arraez has the benefit of enjoying three infield positions (every of the bases) however he’s not significantly good at any of them. (Observe that he additionally performed shortstop and each outfield corners.) He primarily performed first base final season and recorded only one error, a 12 months that noticed his much-heralded batting common dropping beneath .300 (.292) for simply the second time in his profession. However he ranked within the fourth percentile at outs above common and has constantly ranked close to the very backside of defensive runs saved. And naturally, he was moved to first base within the first place as a result of he’s simply not fast sufficient to get after the ball, however the problem of Arraez at first comes from his physique not becoming the profile for the place at simply 5’10”, 175 kilos. Simply as Arraez can lengthen innings on the plate, he can actually lengthen them along with his glove, too.
TLDR: simply give me his 2025 stats.
.292/.327/.392, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 21 strikeouts in 620 at bats
Why would he be a superb match on the Crimson Sox?
In 2025, the Crimson Sox made a change they hadn’t made since calling Jarren Duran up: Roman Anthony began the lion’s share of the video games within the leadoff spot till his harm sidelined him for the remainder of the season. That is vital in Arraez’s case as a result of Duran is a rumored title on the commerce market. Arraez offers Alex Cora an alternative choice for the leadoff spot if he desires to bump Anthony right down to get extra out of his energy. Although Arraez lacks the velocity to show singles into doubles like Duran, his contact bat is one thing the Crimson Sox haven’t actually had lately and would give the lineup a unique look.
Additionally, after a dip within the stats which have headlined his profession manufacturing, it might be a shock to see the infielder signed for any greater than about $25-30 million for two years. For reference, he prevented arbitration with a $14 million cope with San Diego final 12 months. That metric is music to John Henry’s ears. Additionally, he’s stayed wholesome in his profession, and whereas he’s had an ACL tear, it was whereas in the past within the minors. Extra not too long ago, it’s been a nagging thumb in 2024, and two concussions in fairly fast succession this previous season.
Why wouldn’t he be a superb match on the Crimson Sox?
It’s the fielding. As I said earlier than, Arraez is simply too small to be a reputable first baseman, and the larger incumbent, Triston Casas, would doubtless need to lose his job honest and sq.. He’s fantastic as a backup second baseman, however can be poor because the on a regular basis man. That leaves DH for the Crimson Sox and, on condition that Alex Bregman returning isn’t any certainty, the Crimson Sox want extra energy. If that energy isn’t coming from third base, it oughta come from the DH spot. Mix that with the truth that, as of now, the Crimson Sox have already got the costly Masataka Yoshida with nowhere else to play besides DH, and it makes Arraez a clunky match.
Present me a cool spotlight.
Right here’s the primary cycle in Marlins historical past again in 2023.
If Yoshida is both one way or the other dealt and/or Alex Bregman is introduced again (I don’t ask for a lot!), I’d smash for round that $15 million AAV mark. However, hey, it’s not my cash. The Crimson Sox may use all the assistance they might get in making this lineup extra dynamic. I can’t assist however really feel that maybe the largest attraction of Arraez over considered one of these “high tier” free agent first baseman/DH hybrids is the strikeout charge. Besides, who am I kidding? It’s clearly the cash. Nonetheless, I can’t think about the Crimson Sox being okay with bringing in somebody who’s been bounced from a number of infield positions no matter how typically he places the bat on the ball. However not being a snug one-for-one match for any holes on the roster retains the three-time batting common champion squarely within the move column.
