Giants Sign Luis Arraez To One-Year Deal For 2026 Season

San Francisco Giants Secure Bat-First Infielder Luis Arraez

The San Francisco Giants just made a splash, agreeing to a one-year, $12 million deal with infielder Luis Arraez.

Let’s talk about what this means for the team—Arraez’s role, his strengths and weaknesses, and how this move shakes up the roster and payroll. It’s a lot to digest, especially with the Giants’ current spending and their eyes on future moves.

Arraez’s Fit and Financial Implications

Adding Luis Arraez feels both calculated and a bit unexpected for the Giants. He’s famous for his contact skills and will take over at second base—a spot he specifically wanted, even turning down longer deals elsewhere to get it.

What Arraez Brings to the Plate

Arraez really is a pure hitter, and that gives the Giants something different in an infield that’s mostly about slugging. Even in what he called a “down year,” he still hit .292. That’s consistency you can’t ignore.

• Contact King: Arraez puts the bat on the ball as well as anyone, which stands out in today’s strikeout-heavy game.
• Complementary Bat: His approach fits nicely with power guys like Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers.
• Lingering Questions: Still, his hard-hit rate dropped to 16.7%, and his exit velocity and bat speed were down. That makes you wonder if his power will ever really show up or if pitchers will start to exploit him.

Giants’ Payroll and Luxury Tax Outlook

Bringing in Arraez definitely changes the Giants’ financial picture for this season. They’re inching closer to the luxury tax line, showing they’re serious about contending, even if it costs a bit more.

• The Arraez deal bumps the Giants’ projected 2026 payroll to $206 million.
• Right now, their CBT payroll sits at $232.7 million.
• That leaves just about $11.3 million before they hit the first luxury tax threshold. So, don’t expect another huge signing unless something gives.

Defensive Concerns and Roster Ripple Effects

Let’s be honest—Arraez’s bat is why he’s here, but his glove at second base is a concern. The numbers don’t lie, and the Giants will have to get creative with how they use him on defense.

Arraez on the Infield Dirt

Defense hasn’t been Arraez’s strong suit, especially at second base. The stats suggest he’s trying, but it just doesn’t come naturally to him.

• Outs Above Average (OAA): Over 2023-24, he posted a rough -26 OAA.
• First Base Experiment: He got a lot of reps at first base in 2024, with mixed results: -9 OAA, but +3 DRS.
• Strategy implication: The Giants will need to pair Arraez with a strong defender at shortstop or first. It’s the only way to cover up some of those defensive gaps.

Impact on Internal Options and Trade Targets

The arrival of Arraez shakes up the outlook for internal candidates. It also signals that the Giants are done searching for other second base trade targets.

This move pretty much locks in Arraez as the main guy at second.

• Internal Competition: Youngsters like Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt, and Christian Koss, who split time at second base last year, now face more competition. Some of them might see their roles change or even shrink.
• Schmitt’s Role: Casey Schmitt, still working his way back from wrist surgery, could stick as an internal option. He’s especially interesting against lefties, since his career OPS against them is close to Arraez’s.
• Trade Targets Off the Board: With Arraez in the fold, the Giants probably won’t chase established second basemen like Brendan Donovan or Nico Hoerner anymore. Both had been rumored fits for San Francisco, but that window looks closed now.

Landing Luis Arraez feels like a gutsy play by the Giants. They wanted a top-tier contact hitter, and they got one—even if his glove isn’t perfect at second.

His bat brings something different to their lineup, and clearly, the front office valued that more than defensive concerns. Now it’s up to the team to make the most of his skills, figure out the luxury tax puzzle, and see how this all shakes out on the field.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Giants, Luis Arraez Agree To One-Year Deal