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Twins send hitting champion Luis Arraez to Marlins for pitcher Pablo Lopez: Miami adds much-needed bat to MLB No. 28 offense as Minnesota adds pitcher and prospects
American League batting champion Luis Arraez is headed to Miami, while the Minnesota Twins are acquiring reliable starting pitcher Pablo Lopez.
The Minnesota-Miami trade was agreed to Friday, giving the Marlins one of the most patient and consistent hitters in baseball. Arraez, 25, had a breakout season for Minnesota last year, making his first-team All-Star while batting a league-best .316 and denying Aaron Judge a Triple Crown. The New York Yankees star led the American League in home runs and RBIs.
Arraez is a multi-position player who spent most of his time at first base for the Twins last year, starting 61 games there, 34 at designated hitter and 31 at second base. He has also played third base and left field extensively.
The Minnesota-Miami trade was agreed to Friday, giving the Marlins one of the most patient and consistent hitters in baseball. The 25-year-old Arraez (pictured) had a breakout season for Minnesota last year, making his first-team All-Star while batting a league-best .316 and denying Aaron Judge a Triple Crown. The New York Yankees star led the American League in home runs and RBIs
The Twins also received two prospects from the Marlins: infielder José Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio. Salas was voted Miami’s fifth-best prospect in the most recent MLB Pipeline rankings.
Arraez will give the Marlins three years of contract control. This is your first year of eligibility for salary arbitration. He was the only Twins player to miss the deadline last week, asking for $6.1 million in 2023 while the team offered $5 million.
The Venezuela native became a fan favorite for his persistence and patience at the plate, as tough an out as there has been in baseball in recent years with just 131 strikeouts in 1,569 career plate appearances. He has just 14 home runs in four seasons, but his career on-base percentage is .374.
Lopez gives the Twins more depth to an already deep rotation, albeit without an ace
Lopez will give the Twins even more depth to an already deep rotation, though he lacks a true ace. The 26-year-old had a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts last season and threw a career-high 180 innings.
The deal makes sense for Miami, which has a strong pitching rotation highlighted by NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara and newly acquired right-hander Johnny Cueto. However, the Marlins struggled at the plate last season, hitting .230 in 2022, and had been looking to add another hitter to their lineup after signing former Philadelphia infielder Jean Segura.
Arraez will add a much-needed bat, especially after Miami traded shortstop Miguel Rojas to the Dodgers. However, the infield remains crowded, and second basemen Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Sugura are likely to switch to shortstop.
The Marlins disappointed in 2022, going 69-93, while finishing 28 in runs scored.