Rangers miss huge opportunity to upgrade offense as Luis Arráez signs elsewhere

In 2026, there aren't many players left in the league who take pride in being a tough out. In an era that rewards chasing bad pitches and swinging for the fences, Luis Arráez is a throwback to a time when contact hitting and small ball were much more prevalent.

As the Rangers struggled to establish themselves offensively and extend innings by working opposing pitchers last year, they really could have used a guy whose forte is hitting to all fields, not striking out, and getting on base at a high rate.

Arráez has been available to sign on a team-friendly deal all winter, but not anymore, as he has inked a one-year, $12 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.

New Giant Luis Arráez would have helped the Rangers offense immensely at the top of the order

One of the biggest problems with the Rangers' offense in 2025 was the lack of production at the top of the order. Marcus Semien was awful to the point that Bruce Bochy had to move him well down the lineup card. Josh Smith was better, but he slumped badly in the second half.

Arráez's on-base ability could have made a big difference in this year's lineup, even with the addition of Brandon Nimmo, who will likely hit leadoff to start the season.

The 28-year-old from Venezuela won three consecutive batting titles from 2022 to 2024. Over his nine-year career, he has maintained a .317 average, and his OBP of .363 is among the best over the last decade for qualified hitters.

The Rangers will regret not adding Arráez

Assuming Nimmo becomes the leadoff man for the Rangers, he will need to cut down on the strikeouts and make pitchers work the way Arráez would have. Arráez is a master at working counts and getting on base, which is something that the Rangers need desperately in front of sluggers Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford.

Nimmo is four years older, and despite holding a similar career OBP as Arráez, the former Met is a career .262 hitter and has struck out 974 times in 3723 at-bats versus Arráez's astounding 215 in 3224 career at-bats.

For a team that has shown that they are all in by trading for Nimmo and MacKenzie Gore, it doesn't make much sense that they wouldn't have gone after Arráez on a cheap one-year deal. Especially considering he could fill areas of need defensively, as well as being a guy who can play both first and second base.

Seeing Arráez signed on the cheap by the Giants is just another reminder of how the game has changed from effective OBP to swinging from the heels and ending up with an abundance of non-productive at-bats.