Giants' $12M Signing of All-Star Luis Arraez Defended by Justin Verlander's Brother

Ben Verlander argues Arraez's elite contact skills and ability to get on base have immense value despite lack of power.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:23pm

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Since making his MLB debut in 2019, Luis Arraez has established himself as one of the most unique and successful hitters in baseball, winning three batting titles and making three All-Star teams despite not hitting for much power. After signing a $12 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, Arraez has faced skepticism from some fans who don't value his contact-oriented approach. However, Justin Verlander's brother Ben Verlander has come to Arraez's defense, arguing that his elite ability to put the ball in play and get on base has immense value, even if he doesn't hit a lot of home runs.

Why it matters

Arraez's signing with the Giants is notable because he represents a different offensive archetype than many modern power hitters. His ability to consistently make contact and hit for a high average is seen by some as less valuable than players who hit for more power. However, Verlander argues that Arraez's unique skills are extremely valuable and can help elevate the performance of other stars around him in the Giants' lineup.

The details

Arraez has a career .316 batting average and has won three batting titles, while striking out just 215 times in his career. Despite not hitting for much power, his elite contact skills and ability to get on base are seen by Verlander as extremely valuable assets. Verlander points out that Arraez's presence at the top of the Giants' lineup can help 'piss the pitcher off' and set the table for power hitters like Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman.

  • Arraez signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Giants in the 2025 offseason.
  • Arraez will make his first appearance in a Giants uniform during spring training in late February 2026.

The players

Luis Arraez

A three-time All-Star and three-time batting champion who has established himself as one of the most unique and successful contact hitters in MLB despite not hitting for much power.

Ben Verlander

The brother of MLB pitcher Justin Verlander, Ben is an analyst and content creator who has defended Arraez's value and criticized the 'slander' against him.

Trevor Plouffe

A former MLB player who explained how Arraez's presence at the top of the Giants' lineup can help elevate the performance of other stars like Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman.

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What they’re saying

“Can we cut the Luis Arraez slander? This has gotten out of control. Hitting home runs matters, a high OPS matters, WAR matters, but having a guy in the lineup that can hit you .300 plus in his sleep, that matters too. The slander's gone too far. Luis Arraez is an elite contact hitter in an era where it's not cool to be a contact hitter. So really, he just gets swept under the rug.”

— Ben Verlander, Analyst and Content Creator

“I hope they end up putting him at the leadoff position. If you can get him up there, in the first at-bat, he's seeing five, six pitches. Just pi**ing the pitcher off right away, then you can turn it over to Devers, Adames, and Chap. There is something to that dynamic. How quantifiable is it? I don't know. I think he works well at the top of this lineup.”

— Trevor Plouffe, Former MLB Player

What’s next

Arraez will make his first appearance in a Giants uniform once the team begins spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona, in late February 2026.

The takeaway

Arraez's signing with the Giants highlights the ongoing debate in baseball over the value of contact-oriented hitters versus power hitters. While some fans may not appreciate Arraez's skill set, analysts like Ben Verlander argue that his elite ability to put the ball in play and get on base has immense value, even if he doesn't hit for much power. Arraez's presence at the top of the Giants' lineup could help elevate the performance of the team's other star hitters.