With the uncertainty surrounding Gavin Lux’s health, the Rays are relatively thin in the middle infield. Richie Palacios (103 wRC+ vs righties) and Ben Williamson (92 wRC+ vs lefties) have done their best to platoon the second base position into close to league average production, but the Rays would be wise to consider some external candidates to take over if Lux remains on the IL much longer.
A potential trade target is Giants second baseman Luis Arraez. Arraez hadn’t played much second base since 2023, but the Giants seem to have helped him find another gear defensively at the position. While I don’t think he is as good as his early-season Outs Above Average (OAA) numbers suggest, I do believe that he’s a passable defender there who will make the plays he’s supposed to make. But the Rays wouldn’t be trading him for his glove.
Arraez is as consistent as they come in his ability to spray line drives all over the field. His contact-oriented profile fits the Rays new offensive identity well, and his career 126 wRC+ against righties makes him even more enticing. It’s rare for a team in contention like the Rays to be able to improve second-base production from roughly league average to comfortably above average without a tradeoff in defensive quality. As a pending free agent, Arraez is one of the few veterans on the roster who could bring back meaningful prospect value if San Francisco decides to sell. His positional fit, production, and status on his current team make him an ideal trade target for the Rays.
It might feel like a slight overpay to give up one of these guys to get a rental bat, but that’s generally what happens heading into the trade deadline; the Rays would not just be trying to give something of value to land Arraez – they would be trying to make a better offer than several other teams. The Rays may even need to throw in an additional low-minors level lottery ticket type to get the deal done.
The appeal of a move like this is that it addresses a legitimate need without materially changing the organization’s long-term outlook. Arraez would deepen the lineup for a postseason run, the acquisition cost should remain manageable, and the Rays would still retain enough prospect depth to address other needs before the deadline.
