The San Diego Padres are more than likely going to have a new starting first baseman by the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
Infielder Luis Arraez has been the starting first baseman for the Padres due to his defensive miscues at second base, and besides being the best contact hitter and hardest batter to strike out in the sport, he doesn’t provide anything else.
He has no speed, no power and he isn’t a good defender. Are his three batting titles enough to keep him in San Diego’s lineup on a daily basis? Maybe as a full-time designated hitter, but you’d rather your DH be able to hit a lot of home runs and that isn’t Arraez’s game.
While the Padres are reportedly interested in bringing Arraez back, they could improve the offense drastically by trading for a first baseman on the trade market.
There are several great offensive first basemen that are expected to be up for trade, including Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz. Diaz does have similar issues, however, and is six years older than Arraez. But, just like Arraez, you could put him at DH and he will actually hit some home runs.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan believe the Padres are the best fit to land Diaz if the Rays trade him.
“On a $12 million deal (with a $10 million club option that vests at $13 million with 500 plate appearances next year), Díaz's contract is very affordable,” McDaniel and Passan wrote Tuesday. “Whether the Rays are willing to trade him is another question. They've got Jonathan Aranda at first base. They've got enough DH at-bats to go around. And yet, there's skepticism that they'll move Díaz, who has spent the past seven years with the team.
“Diaz, 34, doesn't offer much baserunning or defensive ability, but he's reliable at the plate. If he can get close to last year's numbers -- .300 average and 25 homers -- he'll be a huge bargain, and his option would be an easy pickup. Given his age, his bat speed could decrease soon.”
The former All-Star should be easier to acquire than some other trade candidates and free agents. He wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but considering the Padres are in win-now mode, Diaz could make for a cheap but productive option should the Padres be interested.
Expect San Diego to flip many rocks in pursuit of a power bat.