The New York Yankees’ offseason has been headlined by high-profile acquisitions, including Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams, and Paul Goldschmidt. However, with Gleyber Torres departing in free agency, the Yankees might look to bolster their infield. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees are “actively trying to deal” Marcus Stroman, potentially using him as part of a trade to address their infield needs.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer proposed a trade scenario where the Yankees offload Stroman while acquiring second baseman Luis Arráez from the San Diego Padres:
- Yankees receive: 2B Luis Arráez
- Padres receive: RHP Marcus Stroman, RHP Will Warren (Yankees’ No. 5 prospect), and cash
Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million contract last offseason, has struggled to replicate his 2023 All-Star form. His deal includes an $18 million vesting option for 2026. Trading him is reportedly a priority for the Yankees, but unloading him would require paying part of his salary and including a top prospect, such as Warren, to entice the Padres to part with Arráez.
Arráez, a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and three-time batting champion, is entering the final year of his contract. If the Padres believe he’s likely to leave in free agency, they might entertain moving him. Spotrac projects Arráez to secure a nine-year, $154 million deal in free agency, a cost the Yankees could absorb if they see him as a long-term asset.
Defensively, Arráez has struggled, with a career -33 outs above average at second base. However, his elite hitting offsets his defensive shortcomings, making him an attractive target for the Yankees.
This proposed trade aligns with the Yankees’ need to strengthen their infield while leveraging Stroman to create roster flexibility and bring in a consistent offensive contributor like Arráez.
