Arraez? Cronenworth? Someone else? Who will man 1st for the Padres?

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The Padres are not short on options at first base. Both Luis Arraez and Jake Cronenworth return after sharing time at the position for much of the 2024 season, and they're the two most obvious candidates to start there again in 2025.

And yet, the Padres could look to add another first-base type to their roster. Neither Arraez nor Cronenworth fits the first-base prototype, and there's a clear case to be made that both are better suited playing elsewhere.

Of course, their roles are largely contingent upon the rest of the team's moves this winter. With a month until Spring Training, the Padres have been largely quiet.

Before we break down the situation at first base, here’s a look at where things stand organizationally.

On the 40-man roster: Arraez, Cronenworth
Departures: Donovan Solano
Top 30 prospects: Romeo Sanabria (Padres' No. 23), Lamar King Jr. (No. 30)

Who's at first right now?

Right now it’s Arraez, and he seems the likeliest option to start there on Opening Day. Because of Cronenworth's excellent glove at second base, the Padres lose at least some value when they play him at first (although he’s outstanding defensively there as well).

Arraez clearly does not have the defensive skill set of Cronenworth, but he prefers playing the field to DH-ing, and as things stand, it's not like the Padres have another solution at first.

If they were to sign a shortstop, maybe Xander Bogaerts returns to second, moving Cronenworth back to first. But for now, Arraez is the Padres’ first baseman -- although at some point this offseason, they will presumably add a hitter who is capable of playing the position.

What about a potential trade?

Both Arraez and Cronenworth have been mentioned as trade candidates this winter, and it's easy to see why. Arraez and the Padres have reportedly settled on a salary worth $14 million for the 2025 season. Cronenworth is making approximately $12 million per year for the next six seasons.

If the Padres are looking to fill holes on their roster while remaining under the luxury tax, they'd presumably need to deal a player to free up salary. Both Arraez and Cronenworth are making decent money and would also fetch a decent return.

So yes, they're candidates to be dealt, but they probably aren't the likeliest candidates. The Padres have other trade chips, particularly on their pitching staff, and if they were to deal either Arraez or Cronenworth, they’d suddenly have a hole to fill on the infield.

What's the outlook for Arraez?

Coming off winning a third consecutive batting title, Arraez remains one of the sport's most unique players. He reeled off a streak of 141 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout in August and September -- the longest such streak in 20 years. Considering his ability to spoil all manner of good pitches, he's an immensely frustrating hitter to face.

And yet there are downsides to Arraez's skill set. He doesn't walk much, and he doesn't hit for power, which makes him one of the most polarizing players in the league -- particularly considering he plays a position typically reserved for sluggers.

The Padres have made it clear that they appreciate Arraez's skill set more than most -- but do they appreciate it enough to consider a potential long-term contract? As of recently, that subject still hadn't been broached between the two sides, but Arraez has already said he's open to the possibility.

"If they want to sign me, I want to stay here," Arraez said after the 2024 season. "This is business. I understand the business. But I hope I stay here for a long time."

The verdict

It remains possible that the Padres would deal Arraez (or Cronenworth). But as things stand, Arraez is the starter at first base. And if that’s how they open the season, they’ll feel pretty good about it, too. Arraez is also anticipating a healthier year after he underwent October surgery to address the thumb injury that bothered him last summer.

That doesn’t mean the Padres won’t be looking to add. They would still be well served to sign a bopper who can play first base. Their DH spot remains vacant, and Arraez's glove could make him a better fit there than at first base. (The reality is, he’d probably play both, as he did in 2024.)

In any case, Arraez is coming off winning a third batting title with a third team. He’s the first player to do so. When Arraez clinched that feat in late September, manager Mike Shildt quipped that he did not expect that streak to grow to a fourth team. Indeed, the likeliest scenario is that Arraez will be chasing a fourth batting title (halfway to Tony Gwynn) as the first baseman in San Diego in 2025.