The Philadelphia Phillies made one of the biggest moves of the MLB trade deadline when they acquired second baseman Luis Arraez and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies sent right-handed pitching prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair to San Francisco, hoping the additions would provide an immediate boost as the team pushes toward the postseason.
So far, however, the results have been mixed.
Kilian will not be able to contribute anytime soon after being placed on the injured list with an oblique strain. The injury came after he pitched for the fourth time in just six days, leaving Philadelphia without one of its newly acquired arms.
Arraez, meanwhile, has experienced a stunning downturn at the plate after making an impressive start to his Phillies career.
LUIS ARRAEZ’S BAT HAS SUDDENLY GONE COLD
Arraez has gone 0-for-15 over his last three games, a stretch that has happened only three times in his career. According to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, the last time he endured a similar drought was in August 2021.
For a hitter known for making consistent contact and rarely going through prolonged struggles, the slump is particularly unusual.
Still, interim manager Don Mattingly does not appear overly concerned.
“He’s not one of those guys that’s going to go 0-for-9 or 0-for-10,” Mattingly said. “He’s always hit. He’s going to hit.”
That confidence is understandable. Arraez continues to do what has made him one of baseball’s most reliable contact hitters. He has struck out only once during his 15-at-bat slump. The problem is not that he is consistently missing the baseball; it is that the balls he is putting into play are finding defenders.
That is especially evident in his batting average on balls in play. Since joining the Phillies, Arraez has posted a .200 BABIP, significantly lower than his .318 mark for the season.
In other words, there is plenty of reason to believe that better results could be coming.
THE PHILLIES NEED ARRAEZ IN BIG MOMENTS
The Phillies did not acquire Arraez simply because he can collect hits. They brought him in because of his ability to put pressure on opposing defenses and produce in important situations.
That was evident against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 11.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Arraez came to the plate after Bryce Harper drew a walk, giving Philadelphia a tremendous opportunity to break the game open. These are precisely the situations in which the Phillies envisioned Arraez making a difference.
He put the second pitch into play, but unfortunately for Philadelphia, the ball was hit directly at Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson. Burleson turned it into a 3-2-3 double play, immediately killing what had been a promising rally.
It was another example of the frustrating reality surrounding Arraez right now: he is making contact, but the results simply are not following.
“No doubt, you’d take him up there in these spots over the last few games,” Mattingly said. “No. 1, you know he’s going to put it in play. That’s just who he is. He’s going to hit the ball hard somewhere.”
That is ultimately why the Phillies should remain patient.
THERE IS NO REASON TO PANIC YET
Arraez’s batting average has dropped by roughly 10 points since he made his Phillies debut, which may understandably catch the attention of fans. However, it is far too early to draw major conclusions about his performance.
The Phillies acquired a hitter with an established track record of elite contact, strong situational hitting and consistent production. A three-game, 0-for-15 stretch does not erase years of evidence showing what Arraez is capable of doing.
If anything, his continued ability to put the ball in play should encourage Philadelphia.
The Phillies need their offense operating at its highest level as the postseason approaches, and Arraez can be an important part of that equation. His ability to put the ball in play, move runners and deliver in key situations could become especially valuable in October, when one at-bat can completely change a game.
Right now, though, the Phillies are simply waiting for the baseball gods to stop working against their newest hitter.
Arraez is still making contact. He is still seeing the ball. He is still avoiding strikeouts.
The hits just are not falling.
For a player with his remarkable history, that should be viewed as a temporary problem rather than a long-term concern. The Phillies just need the turnaround to come soon, because their postseason ambitions could depend heavily on Arraez becoming the dangerous contact hitter they believed they were acquiring at the trade deadline.
