The San Diego Padres are set to face several key decisions once the 2026 free agency period arrives. For now, however, their focus remains on the immediate goal of capturing the National League pennant.
Leading the charge in the front office is AJ Preller, with upcoming free agents on the roster including Ryan O’Hearn, Dylan Cease, and Luis Arráez.
Should the Padres re-sign Luis Arráez?
The San Diego Padres picked up Luis Arraez in a trade with the Miami Marlins early in the 2024 season, but now he’s set to test free agency once the year wraps up. His market will serve as a true indicator of both the current free agent landscape and how front offices value his unique skill set.
Arraez has won three batting titles in his career, yet his overall value dips when he’s not producing elite averages. Over 143 games this season, he owns a 95 OPS+ with only 7 home runs. While still batting in the upper .280s, he’s produced just 1.9 bWAR for San Diego in 1,077 at-bats.
Whether the Padres bring him back will ultimately be AJ Preller’s call. Arraez remains a capable leadoff option, but questions linger over how much teams will commit to him in terms of both salary and contract length.
His postseason showing could also heavily influence his market. Against the Dodgers last year, his struggles to reach base were a key factor in San Diego’s extended offensive droughts.
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