Should the Minnesota Twins trade Luis Arraez?
Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported the Minnesota Twins are open to trading Luis Arraez, but should the front office move their All-Star first baseman?
Arraez, if you’re reading this, just know that I and Twins fans love you dearly. The idea of losing Arraez would be devastating, but for the moment, let’s look at the big picture logically.
Arraez is under team control until 2026 and will be 29 at that time. That much team control is valuable to any ball club, which increases his trade value in that aspect.
Last season, Arraez posted a wins above replacement of 4.4, was voted into his first All-Star Game and won the AL Batting title after hitting .316. Since entering the league, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball.
However, his production falls off a bit as the season progresses. Arraez has been plagued with leg injuries his whole career, and last offseason, he worked extensively with Nelson Cruz to increase his leg strength.
That worked out, but Arraez was in and out of the lineup in September. You could tell something was bothering him, as his batting average in August (.269) and September (.299) took a dip.
There’s also a big question mark as to where he lines up defensively. Is he a first or second baseman? Is he better off playing as the primary DH?
Arraez did very well at first last season, but the Twins have Jose Miranda and Alex Kirilloff. Miranda looks to be sliding over to third, and AK is a better long-term fit at first. Minnesota is also better defensively keeping Jorge Polanco at second.
So, the question becomes: should the Twins trade a 25-year-old batting title winner who’s under team control until 2026?
As much as this pains me to say; the Twins should look at moving him this offseason for a clear-cut No. 1. If the pitcher coming back in a trade is not an ace, then it makes no sense moving one of the best hitters in baseball.
Arraez is the heart and soul of this ball club, and losing him will hurt the clubhouse.
Here are some pitchers the Twins should target if they trade Arraez:
If I were the Twins, I would call the Milwaukee Brewers. Reports are saying the Brewers aren’t moving their star pitchers, but everyone has a price. If the offer was right, Milwaukee would make a deal. They just traded second baseman Kolten Wong, so they have a spot to fill there.
Cease is a long shot because he’s so freaking good, and it’s a trade within the division.
Gallen makes a lot of sense, but there are concerns with his health. When healthy, he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.
The reason the Twins have looked into trading Arraez is they’ve seen what it’ll cost to sign a starter in free agency. If you trade him for an ace, that pitcher coming back in a deal will still be making a lot of money. Plus, you’re losing your best hitter and high-end prospects. Doesn’t that cost/hurt your franchise more in the long run?
An Arraez trade wouldn’t be one-for-one. It would likely be Arraez and some combination of prospects. If they trade for one of the starting pitchers listed above, I would trade him. If it’s not for a clear-cut No. 1, then the front office should hold off on trading their star player.
