LUIS ARRAEZ AVOIDS ARBITRATION

It seems Luis Arraez is officially off the market for now. 

The three-time batting champion has reportedly agreed to a $14 million salary for the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres, as first reported by MLB.com. Reading through it, it feels like this news throws a bit of a curveball into any trade talks, especially for teams like the Yankees or the Mets (who are Yankee obsessed) who might have had their eyes on the talented second baseman.

What’s even more weird is that after months of speculation that the Yanks and Padres were talking about a potential Arraez trade, SNY’s Andy Martino notes that the Yankees “briefly” checked in with the Padres last November, but since then, crickets. 

The New York Mets, on the other hand, haven’t dipped their toes into any negotiations with San Diego, though they might still be in the market for a seasoned infielder, as per Martino's insights.

The timing of Arraez’s agreement with the Padres is also noteworthy, coinciding with the 1 p.m. ET deadline for unsigned arbitration-eligible players and teams to exchange salary figures. 

And so there we are.