Buster Posey inadvertently gives SF Giants opponents blueprint to face Luis Arraez

The SF Giants added contact-hitter Luis Arraez a few weeks ago and he figures to be a solid addition to the lineup. President of baseball operations Buster Posey may have inadvertently given opponents a blueprint on how to handle Arraez, though.

Posey recently appeared on Tim Kawakami's podcast and had the following to say about how he would want pitchers to attack pesky high-contact hitters like Arraez back when he was a player:

"He can be a pest, for sure. You know, when I was calling pitches against these guys, I can remember talking to Matt Cain about this type of profile of hitter. You almost are just, like, 'You know what, we're gonna set up middle-middle, we're gonna throw a fastball right down the middle, let him put it in play,' If he gets his hit, tip your hat and move on."

Posey may have given opponents good strategy to pitch SF Giants hitter Luis Arraez

Posey's point is that hitters like Arraez have a tendency to drive a pitcher's pitch count up since they are so good at making contact. They are able to foul everything off and are incredibly tough to strike out so the thinking goes that it's better to just let them hit it and try to let the defense make a play.

Obviously, opposing teams are not going to be tuning into a podcast to get a scouting report on an opponent, but do not be shocked if some teams employ this strategy against Arraez because it makes a good deal of sense.

The left-handed hitter is not a power threat. He had eight home runs last year with the San Diego Padres and the most he has had in a season is 10 which was back in 2023. His power could be even less of a threat at Oracle Park which is notoriously tough on left-handed hitters.

In 13 career games at Oracle, Arraez has slashed .288/.345/.354 with no home runs and two runs batted in. His average exit velocity is among the lowest in the league so teams are really not going to be worried about him taking them deep even if they lay a pitch in there.

It could still work to San Francisco's advantage though if teams do employ the approach Posey laid out. Arraez is a good enough hitter that the Giants would certainly take him lacing a bunch of singles back up the middle or the other way and getting on base a ton if pitchers are giving him good pitches to hit. That is why he could be a solid option as the team's leadoff hitter.

There will be a lot of eyes on Arraez's defense in 2026, but how opposing pitchers decide to pitch him will be an interesting thing to watch as well.