Why Giants' Luis Arraez is no longer a trade deadline fit for this AL West team

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Why Giants' Luis Arraez is no longer a trade deadline fit for this AL West team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Luis Arraez's trade deadline stock is much higher than it was a year ago.

He's made incredible defensive improvements at second base with the San Francisco Giants and is batting .325 with an .808 OPS.

Arraez does not hit many home runs, but he's the ultimate but the ball in play leadoff man.

San Francisco's losing ways leave them with an obvious choice. Arraez, an impending free agent, is all but guaranteed to be moved at next week's trade deadline.

A few weeks ago, the Texas Rangers appeared to be a suitable landing spot for Arraez. Now, his fit with the AL West club is in question.

Arraez may no longer be a fit with the Texas Rangers​

"The Texas Rangers, one of the teams for whom Arraez might be a fit, have bigger priorities, according to people briefed on their plans but granted anonymity to speak freely," The Athletic's Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal, and Katie Woo wrote.

Texas' roster may have a roster crunch in the infield. Plus, Arraez has made it clear he will be staying at second base if he's traded.

MORE: Giants willing to trade Heliot Ramos in big news for many MLB clubs

"Arraez, who played for Rangers manager Skip Schumaker in Miami, no longer is an obvious fit," The Athletic trio added. "Shortstop Corey Seager and third baseman Josh Jung are expected to come off the IL this weekend, enabling Ezequiel Duran to slide to second, where the Rangers also are using Nicky Lopez."

The obvious roster move for the Rangers is to trade for Arraez, use Duran in a utility role, and cut ties with Lopez.

Lopez is hitting .319/.357/.361 with a .718 OPS in 50 games for the Rangers, but Arraez, a four-time All-Star, is clearly the better option for a potential postseason roster.

More MLB news:​

• Yankees are ‘leading candidate’ to trade for Twins’ Ryan Jeffers
• Red Sox ‘would love’ to trade for Angels’ Zach Neto or Astros’ Jeremy Pena
• Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest update
• Tigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without him
• Mets ‘desperate’ to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure

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