Luis Arraez, the 2022 American League batting champion, may have a brand new dwelling for the 2023 season.
The Twins traded Arraez on Friday to the Miami Marlins in change for beginning pitcher Pablo Lopez and high prospect Jose Salas, based on the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Whereas buying and selling the AL’s reigning batting champion may look like a surprising transfer, it has an opportunity to be a short-term and long-term win for the Twins.
The 26-year-old Arraez has spent the primary 4 years of his big-league profession with the Twins and has developed into an excellent hitter throughout that point. He’s a .314 hitter for his profession and by no means completed a season with a median decrease than .294. His .319 mark in 2022 led the American League. However he is not only an empty common hitter, both. He will get on base and has the flexibility to play a number of positions across the infield.
So, what makes this such an ideal deal for the Twins?
Begin with the truth that Lopez offers them some much-needed beginning pitching assist and may instantly be probably the greatest starters of their rotation. He averages greater than eight strikeouts per 9 innings, has good management, and persistently has a sub-4.00 ERA.
That alone is an enormous get for the Twins. With the return of Carlos Correa in free company, in addition to the presence of Jorge Polanco at second base and Jose Miranda at first, the Twins have greater than sufficient pop round their infield. It was a place of power they have been capable of deal from to fill a place of weak point.
That’s precisely what groups are on the lookout for in a commerce.
What provides to it for the Twins is that the 19-year-old Salas is among the Marlins’ high prospects and has the potential to be an everyday within the Minnesota lineup sooner or later.
The AL Central may be very a lot extensive open, and the Twins generally is a contender in with higher pitching. Lopez helps them get there. Even when the price is a 2022 All-Star and American League batting champion.
