What to do with Arraez?

[ashbury]

I remember asking the same question during those 13 games that Glenn Williams owned the hot corner in 2005.

Not getting too worked up over a 27-year old rookie, and dreaming on a 22-year old, are different things and can both be done.

 

Though I agree with the sentiment not to forecast dramatic roster shuffles on account of a nice beginning to a MLB career.

[jz7233]

 

Bench players can't be solid players? I think .9 WAR, .4 WAR, and .7 WAR in 29 games is solid.

He is a guy that you can fill in with that won't hurt you in the field or kill you with the bat. I can't imagine cutting him with the lack of SS depth we have.

Would it be great if he was a .300 hitter? of course it would, but then he wouldn't be a bench player, he would be getting paid by another team to start.

I am not throwing a player like him away for a guy with 12 at bats and doesn't play SS.

I see average teams cutting players like that left and right. There are plenty of Adrianza's out there if needed.

[Tomj14]

I am sure Gonzalez and Astudillo can both play SS and they could certainly hit better. Offensive skill matters in baseball. I am really tired of seeing Adrianza start every game nowadays.

I kind of forgot about the 5 games Astudillo played in the Foreign Rookie league in 2011. Sure he would be a great guy to put at SS for 32 - 16 first place team. Can't see anything bad happening with that.

If the Twins cut Adrianza and Polanco gets hurt and their replacement is a hodge podge of second and third basemen the Front Office should be fired.

[jz7233]

We will see. Adrianza would probably go anyway when Cruz and Garver come back. I believe Arraez is here to stay. Unless they decide to send Sano down again.

[jz7233]

 

I kind of forgot about the 5 games Astudillo played in the Foreign Rookie league in 2011. Sure he would be a great guy to put at SS for 32 - 16 first place team. Can't see anything bad happening with that.

If the Twins cut Adrianza and Polanco gets hurt and their replacement is a hodge podge of second and third basemen the Front Office should be fired.

I could hardly see the FO gets fired for the decision of letting Adrianza go. No more SS in the market? No one else could play SS adequately in the system?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

When he runs to 1B after hitting the ball, he reminds me of Rod Carew.

You're right, Carew always did that -- ran to first base after hitting the ball.

 

Unlike some of my T-ball players!

[Tomj14]

 

I could hardly see the FO gets fired for the decision of letting Adrianza go.

There is NO chance the front office gets fired. I said should.

And not because they would have let them go, it would be for taking a first place team and leaving that team with no viable short stop in case of injury or god forbid drug suspension.

[drivlikejehu]

Arraez is going to go back down, folks may as well get used to that idea. He's not a "star," not now and probably not ever. There are significant question marks regarding his long-term potential, both offensively and defensively.

 

I do like him as a prospect, but to be an above-average starting player he will need to drive the ball with more consistency. In 41 minor league games, he had 7 total extra-base hits and 0 home runs. It's fun that he's been hot in his brief MLB stint, but the reality is that he's mostly a slap hitter at this point, and that approach is difficult to sustain against MLB pitching. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Don’t force a decision. Let the decision come to you, as it likely will in this situation (and most others).

 

This is the correct answer in a nutshell.

[yarnivek1972]

I remember asking the same question during those 13 games that Glenn Williams owned the hot corner in 2005.

Considering that the Twins signed “Past a Diving” Tony Batista to play 3b for the 2006 season and released him less than 2 months into the season, rolling with Williams instead might not have been the worst decision in the world. Worst case scenario is that he would be as bad as T-Bat and the Twins decide to go to Punto anyway.

[prouster]

They should send him down and let him play everyday. It’s a pretty simple decision.

[Riverbrian]

Arraez - While he is up with the big club... PLAY HIM! When he's back in Rochester... he's still on the roster and we can always call him up when needed. Arraez is creating no problems by starting hot. 

 

Adrianza - One question needs to be answered... Will Baldelli play him?

 

If everyone is healthy... Will Baldelli and the front office give him the opportunity to contribute?

 

If the answer is Yes... He's important and you hang on to him. He doesn't have options and he will be claimed. By answering Yes... you will play him at least a couple of times a week. 

 

If the answer is No... If you have to wait for injury or getaway days...  Then he is no longer important to this club... he won't increase in value and he is easily replaceable by anyone. Guys who don't play are just as valuable as other guys who don't play. 

 

Back to Arraez... If the answer is yes with Adrianza... Arraez is simply sent back to Rochester for additional depth and playing time and we bring him back when needed. 

 

We all need more information and data before we start planning DFA's or trades. The only way to get that information is during game action. 

 

What I'd do is this: Play Arraez while he is in town so the club gathers more data to better answer the questions:

 

Could he help us during the playoffs this year in case of injury or poor performance?

 

Do we have to pay Schoop 20 million to stay with us next year?

 

If he stays hot, delay his return flight to Rochester for as long as you can to gather more data but, eventually he will have to go back to Rochester when everyone is healthy and performing. If it's a month down the road and Arraez is hitting .400... Goodbye Adrianza at that time. 

 

 

[wsnydes]

 

I am sure Gonzalez and Astudillo can both play SS and they could certainly hit better. Offensive skill matters in baseball. I am really tired of seeing Adrianza start every game nowadays.

I want nothing to do with Astudillo at SS, let alone on the regular.

 

Arraez should go where he can get every day reps. That won't be with the big league club much longer. He can come back up if the need arises and we have a little better idea of what we're getting. But he needs to be playing every day, which will soon be AAA.

[dexknows33]

 

I want nothing to do with Astudillo at SS, let alone on the regular.

 

Yeah... thank you.... 

[Tuba]

Adrianza since April 21:

 

.265/.383/.469 (.853 OPS).

[TheLeviathan]

 

Adrianza since April 21:

 

.265/.383/.469 (.853 OPS).

 

I mistakenly wanted to dump Castro earlier, same reasoning applies to waiting here:  good defensive shortstops that won't kill you with the bat are a rarity.  Dumping Adrianza would be a serious mistake.

 

It's nice to know the kid is down there to help us, let him keep playing every day and let's see if we can find him a spot next year.  Or the year after.

 

Then let's secretly hope Gordon lights the world on fire before July 31st.

[BD57]

12 AB's is the textbook definition of "small sample size" - on steroids.

 

Things are looking very good, let's be excited for the kid . . . and let's send him back to the Red Wings with instructions to play every day, keep raking and we'll get him up here for good soon.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Astudillo?

 

... really?

 

And herein lies the problem with this entire conversation: baseball seasons are not 40 games long. They’re 162 games long and rosters see massive turnover due to injury and ineffectiveness.

 

Just like the Castro conversation of six weeks ago, disposing of depth in the first half of the season for no real reason (we’re talking two games a week in a loaded lineup) is a good way to lose baseball games in the second half of the season (a lot of games if you foolishly drop two or more players unnecessarily).

 

Send Arraez back down. Let him play every day in Rochester (no one is talking about his age and lack of experience, both of which will surely be helped by regular playing time) and call him back up if you need him again. Reevaluate the roster on the fly but don’t dump MLB players in May when there’s no good reason to it.

 

Don’t force a decision. Let the decision come to you, as it likely will in this situation (and most others).

channeling my inner RB... most importantly, make sure in AAA he plays every day in multiple positions, especially SS. Let him know he’ll be called back soon, and will be called upon again to be a positionally flexible player.

[Thrylos]

Arraez is the Twins' second baseman of the future.   He needs to play every day.  This year the Twins' second baseman is Schoop.  The future is likely next year for Arraez.   AAA and if needed recalled.

 

Depending on how things go and if it makes sense to have him in the post-season roster, recall him in time for that.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

 

Then let's secretly hope Gordon lights the world on fire before July 31st.

 

Absolutely!  Gonzalves too.  They can be good pieces towards a top of the rotation / back of the bullpen arm.

[jkcarew]

No evidence that Rocco considers anyone (that we’ve seen so far) a legitimate major league shortstop option (besides Polanco) other than Adrianza. We might think he should, or hope he does, consider Arraez and/or Gonzalez an option at short...but there’s no evidence to suggest that. Two innings in an 18-4 game (where Arraez was still ultimately replaced by Adrianza) doesn’t qualify.

[jud6312]

Did I really read a suggestion of playing La Tortuga at SS, or was that the cough medicine playing tricks with me?

 

If so, you're a braver person than I am.

 

I wouldn't be comfortable with him at SS for a game, much less multiple games. 

 

 

[Thrylos]

 

No evidence that Rocco considers anyone (that we’ve seen so far) a legitimate major league shortstop option (besides Polanco) other than Adrianza. We might think he should, or hope he does, consider Arraez and/or Gonzalez an option at short...but there’s no evidence to suggest that. Two innings in an 18-4 game (where Arraez was still ultimately replaced by Adrianza) doesn’t qualify.

 

Arraez.  Career MiLB games:

 

2B: 241
3B: 38 (15 in 2019)
SS: 24 (5 in 2019)
LF: 9 (1 in 2019)

 

Nope.  He should not consider him an option at SS, other than in a blow out game, or in a late September game that does not matter, or in case of emergency.

[Rosterman]

So with Polanco hitting and signing an extension, what is the fate of Gordon? We all say Polanco is a second baseman, although he never plays there. In the wings are Lewis and Javier. 

 

Arraez is a plus guy, but he also has some limitations, depending on construction of the team. But right now, him and Willians are very very entertaining and producing. Sad to see them both go back to AAA at some point.

[jorgenswest]

Gordon’s fate is in his own hands. If he hits there will be plenty of at bats for him.

[Linus]

I don’t know the exact answer but I know the parameters of the right answer. Wherever he is, he needs to play everyday. I think Schoop is likely one and done and I prefer to spend money to keep Cron.

 

The other thing is not many guys can be competent MLB shortstops with the glove. Adrianza is and is the only option at SS if Polanco got hurt

[Riverbrian]

 

I know this thread is about Arraez but after reading this thread... I am absolutely shocked by the willingness of some posters to simply discard Astudillo. 

 

He's had 27 AB's since he came back from the D.L. with 5 hits. Everybody on this roster has had 5 for 27 stretches. 

 

Ask Yourself... How many catchers have hit over .300 with 15 home run power in the past decade? 

Ask yourself... What is the trade value of a .300 hitting 15 home run catcher with 6 years of control? 

Ask yourself... What is the trade value of a .300 hitting 15 home run catcher who can also play 3B,1B and occasional outfield? Especially to a National League team. 

 

You don't trash an Astudillo. You coach him.

 

Coach: Mr. Turtle... we love your contact skills... now lets work on pitch selection a little... add some walks to those contact skills. 

 

Coach: La Turtle... You are decent enough behind the plate... good arm and feet. Now let's work on that pitch framing and the handling of the staff. 

 

He has skills that you can't teach... teach him what you can teach. If he adds those things to his game... you have a guy who could skyrocket in value enough to get a top 25 MLB overall prospect in return because that's what Catchers who hit .300 with 15 home runs will bring back. 

 

Back to Arraez... He's been very exciting to watch and I am insistent that he plays while he is visiting us... but don't we need to see more of it until we start clearing additional space for him on the 25 man roster. We have enough space for him already on the 40 man roster. Why must we start tossing bodies out the door to clear room?  

 

It's just depth... I know we haven't seen it as Twins Fans so we don't know how to react to having it... but it's just depth and it's a great thing... Enjoy it, we don't have to kill it because it's new to us.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DiscGolfer]

I like what the kid has done in 4 games so far but if everyone is healthy his AB;s go down.  Give him consistent AB's at Rochester.  He's not lost for the season if you send him down, keep him ready for the next time he's needed.  Once opposing scouts get a better look at him his numbers could go down too.  Nice to have a quality bat in AAA to call up if and when needed.  He keeps producing he'll get plenty of opportunities in the future.

[Loosey]

If what we are seeing out of Arraez is anywhere near where he will be long-term, then the Twins have fallen into fantastic 2nd baseman of the future.  Key word there is future.  Right now, he needs to continue developing in AAA when the roster crunch happens.  He will likely be up again this year when an injury inevitably happens, etc.  

 

The fact he is flashing like this is fantastic.  The infield depth on this team is great.  If the time comes for the Twins to start trading assets for pieces to make a Playoff push they can dive into that and probably trade someone like Gordon and hopefully not miss a beat in the future.

 

But to answer the OPs original question.  Send Arraez down for at bats.

[wagwan]

Arraez is certainly not a surprise or some out of nowhere success. He has been the best pure hitter in the Twins Minor League system since he hit .348 in 2014. In his last 3 stops he hit .347 at Cedar Rapids, .320 at Fort Meyers and .342 at Pensacola. What we are seeing is who he is and has been.

 

Still though, this year is all about who has options. Now that the Twins have depth, they will have more of these "good" problems  .. more than 25 players who could be on the roster. But I bet he will get significant time at Target field this season.