Joaquín Arias (baseball)

Professional career

Arias began his professional career after signing with the New York Yankees as an international free agent on July 12, 2001. He debuted in 2002 with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees, batting .300 with 21 RBI in 57 games. The following year, with the Battle Creek Yankees of the Single-A Midwest League, he hit .266/.306/.343 with three home runs, 48 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. On March 23, 2004, the Texas Rangers acquired Arias to complete a trade from February 16 that sent Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano; Arias was chosen over Robinson Canó from five Yankees prospects because he was considered a more polished defender and two years younger.

He made his MLB debut for Texas on September 13, 2006, drawing a walk against the Detroit Tigers, and went 6-for-11 (.545) with one RBI and one walk in six appearances that season. After missing most of 2007 due to arthroscopic right shoulder surgery, he played 32 games for the Rangers in 2008, batting .291/.345/.409 with nine RBI and four stolen bases. In 2009 he appeared in only three games, going hitless in eight at-bats. Arias made 50 appearances in 2010, slashing .276/.290/.347 with nine RBI and one stolen base, but was designated for assignment on August 24 following the promotion of Alex Cora.

Kansas City Royals

On August 31, 2010, the Rangers traded him to the New York Mets for Jeff Francoeur. He appeared in 22 games for the Mets that season, hitting .200/.250/.233 with four RBI. On November 4, 2010, the Kansas City Royals claimed Arias off waivers, but designated him for assignment on December 19 to make room for prospects from the Zack Greinke trade. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers on December 22, playing 69 games for Omaha in 2011 with a .232/.272/.353 line, three home runs, 25 RBI, and seven stolen bases.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants signed Arias to a minor league contract on December 15, 2011. After spring training in 2012, he was assigned to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies on April 5, where he hit .400 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 18 games before being called up by the Giants on April 25.