Former Marlins player can make history in a contract year

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres - Game 4
Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres - Game 4 | Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages

Peter Bendix is still getting criticized for his trade last year. The trade that said saw him send Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres. Arraez was of course a fan favorite and many fans were sad to see him get traded away. It's unlikely that Arraez will return to The Fish at any point in next year's off-season. It's definitely not going to be fun to see him make history at the same time on a different team.

Former Miami Marlins slugger Luis Arraez can make history.

Luis Arraez has arguably been the best contact hitter in the game over the last few years. He first stood out with the Minnesota Twins in the 2021 season. That season, he batted .294/.357/.376, with 2 home runs and 42 RBI in 121 games and 428 AB. That was a good performance that was worth 3.4 WAR.

Following that performance up in the 2022 season, Arraez took nit to another level as he batted .316/.375/.420, with 8 home runs and 49 RBI in 14 games and 547 AB. He was worth 4.2 WAR. He was traded to the Miami Marlins after the season, in what turned out to be a big deal for both The Fish and the Minnesota Twins. The 2023 season turned out to be a great one for Arraez. He batted .354/.393/.469, with 10 home runs and 69 RBI in 147 games and 574 AB. He was worth an even beter 4.9 WAR.

The 2022 and 2023 seasons saw Luis Arraez win two consecutive batting titles, one for the American League and the National League. He wasn't as good in the 2024 season however. He split it between The Fish and she San Diego Padres. He was worth just 1.0 WAR for his production. He batted .314/.346/.392, with 4 home runs and 46 RBI in 150 games and 637 AB that season.

Luis Arraez won another National League batting title in 2024, and that makes it three in a row. Could he win a fourth one in a row with San Diego this upcoming season? That would be historic.

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