LUIS ARRAEZ TO THE YANKS IS INTERESTING, BUT WHERE DOES HE FIT?

When Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees have talked with the Giants about Luis Arraez, you pay attention. That's what this time of year is all about. Brian Cashman kicks the tires on just about everybody, and sometimes those conversations turn into something real.

This one, though, feels different.

Not because Arraez isn't a terrific player. He absolutely is.

The question is whether he's the right player for this Yankees team.

Let's start with what makes Arraez special. There may not be a better pure contact hitter in baseball. He's the guy who can step into the batter's box with two strikes and still find a way to slap a ball into left field. He doesn't chase home runs. He doesn't try to be something he's not. He simply puts the bat on the baseball—and in today's game, that's becoming a lost art.

For years we've watched the Yankees live and die with the long ball. When they're hitting three-run homers, they're unstoppable. When they're not, the offense can disappear for days at a time. That's why someone like Arraez is attractive. He changes the rhythm of an offense. He keeps innings alive. He forces pitchers to work. He gets on base, moves runners and creates opportunities for the big bats behind him.

Those are qualities every contender would love to add heading into October.

But here's where things get complicated.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is already the Yankees' second baseman.

And unlike Arraez, Jazz gives the Yankees something you simply can't overlook. He's athletic. He covers a ton of ground defensively. He can change a game with one swing or one stolen base. He's become an important piece of this club and moving him off second base just to make room for another second baseman doesn't exactly solve a problem.

In fact, it may create one.

Sure, you can start playing the "what if" game. What if Arraez plays first? What if he rotates through DH?

You can make those scenarios work on paper, but baseball isn't played on paper, yet that's how the Yankees play the game. Interesting. But listen, players need consistency, and so do lineups. The Yankees already spend enough time trying to shuffle pieces around because of injuries and rest days. Adding another everyday player without a natural position feels more like a puzzle than a solution.

Now, does Arraez improve the lineup? Absolutely.

He'd probably become one of the toughest outs on the roster the moment he put on pinstripes. But does he make the Yankees a significantly better team? That's a much tougher question.

If the Yankees were looking to replace a struggling second baseman, I'd be pounding the table for this move. But that's not the situation. Jazz Chisholm isn't the problem. The Yankees have bigger needs as immature as Jazz is.

They could still use another dependable bullpen arm. They could use another right-handed bat that balances the lineup. They NEED a catcher. They need to get rid of Volpe. Depending on how things shake out, they could even look to improve behind the plate.

Those are areas where an acquisition has a cleaner fit.

This rumor feels more like the Yankees doing what smart organizations do: checking in on talented players to see if there's a deal that makes sense. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Cashman should make every phone call he can.

But making a call and making a trade are two very different things. Luis Arraez is one of the best hitters in baseball at doing what so many players have forgotten how to do—putting the ball in play. Every contender should have interest in a player like that.

The Yankees included. That doesn't mean he's the right fit. As the trade deadline gets closer, expect the rumors to keep flying. Some will have legs. Others will simply be conversations between front offices doing their homework.

This one falls somewhere in the middle. Arraez would make the Yankees' lineup tougher, but I just don't know if this is real.  

What do you think? Would you trade for Luis Arraez, or would you stick with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and address the Yankees' bigger needs? Or, can they both be on the team as we head into the fall? 

Interesting questions, I don't have the answers.