The New York Yankees are caught in a trade rumor spiral, which isn’t uncommon for Major League Baseball’s signature franchise.

Typically, if the Yankees want a superstar, they find a way to get him. It’s why no one was all that stunned to see Juan Soto traded to the Bronx last winter, and why many were stunned when Soto left for the New York Mets in December.

Could the Yankees now be drawing a bead on another San Diego Padres trade target?

There’s been a lot of speculation that three-time batting champion Luis Arraez could be a fit for New York, as he enters his final year of team control in San Diego. Though the Padres haven’t allowed him to play much second base, it’s the position he won a Silver Slugger at in 2023 with the Miami Marlins.

In a recent TikTok video, content creator Steven Russell predicted that the Yankees would trade for Arraez, installing a new leadoff hitter at the top of the New York order.

“Luis Arraez to the Yankees makes so much sense to me,” Russell said. “I get it, he’s not great defensively, but here’s what I really do like: he puts the ball in play, (the) opposite of what so many Yankees hitters are.”

Arraez, 27, has a .323/.372/.419 career slash line in six seasons. He’s already been traded twice, but wherever he goes, he puts the bat on the ball at a truly elite clip. Even if his on-base percentage isn’t Soto good, it would be an upgrade over New York’s current leadoff hitter options.

There are obvious flaws in Arraez’s game–he would be one of the worst defenders in the game at second base, and he really only does one thing well offensively. It just so happens that he’s the best in the sport at that one specific skill.

One can argue the Yankees need that skillset or that it’s not worth the risk. The simultaneous beauty and pain of baseball is that everyone can debate these topics, but only the front office gets the power to make the decision.