Photo via the San Francisco Giants on X (Twitter)/ @SFGiants
The San Fransisco Giants made a splash free agent signing Saturday night ahead of Tony Vitello’s first season as the organization’s manager. Veteran utility infielder Luis Arraez signed a one-year contract worth $12 million with the Giants, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman first reported.
Arraez is one of the best contact hitters in baseball winning the batting title three-straight years from 2022-2024. He had a bit more modest 2025 season, hitting .292 with eight home runs, 30 doubles and 61 RBIs with the San Diego Padres.
The left-handed hitting infielder is of a dying breed in baseball. Arraez struck out only 21 times during the 2025 season for a nearly impossibly low 3.1% strikeout rate. Over the course of his seven-year career, Arraez is hitting .317 with 36 home runs, 169 doubles and 308 RBIs.
Arraez has also bounced around a great deal. He began his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins before playing for the Miami Marlins, Padres and now the San Fransisco Giants.
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One of the main knocks on Arraez is his defense. He plays first, second and third base but is not a great defender at any spot which has led to him spending a large chunk of his as a designated hitter. According to Giants lineup projections, Arraez will likely play second base for the Giants next season.
Vitello and Arraez are looking to elevate San Fransisco to a different level after going 81-81 during the 2025 season and finishing two games back of making the playoffs. The Giants have been a model of mediocrity over the last four seasons, winning between 79 and 81 games in the four seasons since they went 107-55 in 2021.
President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey went outside the box this offseason, hiring Vitello as his new manager despite the Tennessee head coach having no professional baseball experience as a player, scout or coach. Vitello left Tennessee after a highly-successful nine-year stint that included three trips to the College World Series and the 2024 National Championship.