Luis Arraez signing has given SF Giants a shiny new trade chip

The Luis Arraez signing has a number of ramifications for the SF Giants. The fact that the Giants intend to use him as their everyday starter at second base means the team may have a nice new trade chip in Casey Schmitt.

Both Schmitt and Christian Koss are the two infielders most directly affected by the Arraez signing. Schmitt will probably move into a utility role off the bench and Koss will have to fight for a bench role or else he may not make the team.

SF Giants can trade Casey Schmitt after signing Luis Arraez

Last season Schmitt proved that he can be a solid utility player who is fine defensively at every position and he also showed that he can handle being an everyday starting second baseman. It was beginning to look like the Giants were going to enter 2026 with him as the starter despite being heavily linked to upgrades on the trade market, but the Arraez signing shows they are willing to improve offensively at the position even if Arraez's defense leaves a lot to be desired.

On the one hand, it may be smart for the Giants to retain Schmitt just in case Arraez is so unplayable at second base that he has to be moved to first base or be made a designated hitter.

On the other, the Giants have a competent infield bench player in Koss so trading Schmitt could help address another area of the roster like the bullpen which is still a little scary to think about with pitchers and catchers reporting soon.

Schmitt's natural position is third base and as long as Matt Chapman is there, the San Diego State product will not be getting a ton of playing time at the hot corner barring injury.

But maybe there is another team out there willing to take a chance on Schmitt to see if he can develop into something. The St. Louis Cardinals are a rebuilding team who just traded away third baseman Nolan Arenado, so maybe the Giants could work out a trade with them for a reliever like JoJo Romero who had a 2.07 ERA in 65 innings last year.

The Giants might have to add in a mid-tier prospect to sweeten that deal a bit, but the point is that the Giants may not want Schmitt to waste away on the roster in a bench role if he does not get used much.

Maybe he could come in games as a late-inning defensive replacement for Arraez, but outside of that it will be tough to get Schmitt involved a lot.

It would be sad to see Schmitt go, but after the Arraez addition it is something the Giants have to entertain to address other roster deficiencies.