Arraez Optioned

[stringer bell]

Who would go when the Twins were back to full strength was debated long and hard by Twins Daily posters. With the return of Mitch Garver on Sunday and the near-certain return of Nelson Cruz on Tuesday in time for the Cleveland series, we have our answer. Luis Arraez was optioned last night after the completion of the series with Tampa Bay.

 

Arraez was outstanding in his cameo appearance. In about 30 plate appearances, he hit .375, with an OPS of 1.050, he hit a home run, stole a base and only struck out once while drawing five walks. He played well in the field, and showed versatility, logging innings at second, short and third. Luis got his at-bats as Baldelli ran an assortment of players through the DH spot in the lineup while Cruz was on the injured list. So, Cruz' return ends Arraez current stint with the big club.

 

Arraez will get Triple A reps and be ready in the event of an injury. He and Jake Cave will provide major-league ready depth in Rochester. The club has no position players on the injured list currently and that will change during the next three months.

 

If the Twins need to add another pitcher, it would appear that the next to go is Astudillo. Willians bat numbers have declined and while he is a satisfactory receiver, he will definitely be the third catcher, a luxury most teams can't afford for a whole season.

 

The Twins' current bench has the alternate catcher and three truly versatile players, who have all started games this year at at least four positions--Marwin Gonzalez, Ehire Adrianza and Astudillo--well set up to provide rest for the nominal starters.

[70charger]

It makes sense to send him down, but I’m sad to see him go. He’s got a good approach, and I think he belongs in the big leagues. I’ve got a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of Arraez in the coming years.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I figured it would be Astrudillo... though he may still be sent down when Cruz is activated. Having 3 good offensive options at C certainly is nice, but Willians hasn't quite been himself the last few weeks. He's swinging at too much garbage. I know he doesn't like to walk, but he needs to lay off pitches out of the zone for no other reason than to get hittable pitches in the zone. 

[USAFChief]

This wasn't hard to predict. Arraez plays only one position, and isn't going to take many PAs away from Schoop.

 

Hopefully Cruz is healthy and mashing. Makes a huge difference in this lineup.

[alarp33]

 

I figured it would be Astrudillo... though he may still be sent down when Cruz is activated. 

 

Arraez was sent down because Cruz was activated, no?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Arraez was sent down because Cruz was activated, no?

who went down for Garver? I'm confused apparently. 

[MMMordabito]

 

It makes sense to send him down, but I’m sad to see him go. He’s got a good approach, and I think he belongs in the big leagues. I’ve got a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of Arraez in the coming years.

 

Possibly on another team .... With the Twins going for it, his little cameo certainly increased his asset value as well.  I'd rather that they keep Arraez and move Gordon, but whatever it takes to get this team more playoff horses is fine with me.

[USAFChief]

 

who went down for Garver? I'm confused apparently. 

Littell.

[Fargoguy]

who went down for Garver? I'm confused apparently.

 

Littell went back down to make room for Garver.

[jdmurphy315]

Yes, all the position players were healthy, but I think the real depth question has always been what would happen when they were healthy and went to 13 pitchers - now it's only 12. Still boils down to Adrianza and Astudillo, and Astudillo's slump plus his option makes him much likelier than was the case a month ago. When they'll call upon that 13th pitcher, though, who knows - maybe they don't feel they need to.

[FlauerPauer]

I would rather have seen Astudillo sent down. He's been an easy out for the last month. No power, no on-base skills, no eye at the plate. Dude needs to go.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

This wasn't hard to predict. Arraez plays only one position, and isn't going to take many PAs away from Schoop.

 

Hopefully Cruz is healthy and mashing. Makes a huge difference in this lineup.

 

Second is probably his best position, but he played a fair amount at short and third.  Arraez will see much of his future value come from positional flexibility, much like Marwin.

[KFEY93]

 

I would rather have seen Astudillo sent down. He's been an easy out for the last month. No power, no on-base skills, no eye at the plate. Dude needs to go.

Agreed. I would like him in AAA until we actually need him because of injuries. He's a liability in the line up. Period.  

[John Kelsey]

 

I would rather have seen Astudillo sent down. He's been an easy out for the last month. No power, no on-base skills, no eye at the plate. Dude needs to go.

 

Also our worst defensive catcher. 

[USAFChief]

https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-cruz-off-injured-list-luis-arraez-optioned

 

Cruz officially activated off the IL

[amjgt]

 

Agreed. I would like him in AAA until we actually need him because of injuries. He's a liability in the line up. Period.  

 

Rocco doesn't seem to agree with you based on the fact that he keeps batting him 3rd.

[Shaitan]

Everything is going right this year.

 

June 3 and just one player on IL -- and a middle innings reliever at that? (Did I get that right, Mejia?)

[Shaitan]

 

Everything is going right this year.

 

June 3 and just one player on IL -- and a middle innings reliever at that? (Did I get that right, Mejia?)

Oh, right. And Pineda, a 5th starter.

[KFEY93]

 

Rocco doesn't seem to agree with you based on the fact that he keeps batting him 3rd.

I realize that. That doesn't make him right all the time, at least in my eyes. He makes contact, but right at defenders, his numbers are awful. 

[Nine of twelve]

 

...Willians hasn't quite been himself the last few weeks.

Or it could be that his relatively hot start in the majors was a bit of a fluke and we are now seeing him as he truly is. In either case he's probably the most superfluous of our position players.

[Squirrel]

 

who went down for Garver? I'm confused apparently. 

Littel ... and yes, you are confused.

[MNT1996]

I don't get people's dislike for Astudillo here. 3 catchers is working for the Twins so why change it? He's batting better than most backup catchers in the league AND he adds flexibility for the Twins behind the plate and in the infield. You also gotta look at what this guy brings to the clubhouse. He's a very likeable guy, looks like he is a great cheerleader for the team and brings good energy. Don't underestimate what Tortuga brings to this club. The guy has been with the team all year. Don't disrupt the chemistry. 

[rdehring]

What a great opportunity for Arraez.  And he confirmed that he will play at the major league level exactly as he has done every step of the way.  Expect he has done a lot to confirm to management that he can be their starting second baseman in 2020.  May cool any interest the Twins had in resigning Schoop as well as increasing the likelihood that Gordon might be included in any deadline deal.  

 

Won't it be great mixing one guy with a .400 OBP in with all those big boppers.  Expect we will see him back as soon as there is an injury.  If not, on September 1.

[KFEY93]

 

I don't get people's dislike for Astudillo here. 3 catchers is working for the Twins so why change it? He's batting better than most backup catchers in the league AND he adds flexibility for the Twins behind the plate and in the infield. You also gotta look at what this guy brings to the clubhouse. He's a very likeable guy, looks like he is a great cheerleader for the team and brings good energy. Don't underestimate what Tortuga brings to this club. The guy has been with the team all year. Don't disrupt the chemistry. 

Its working because of Garver and Castro. We only needed him up here because Garver was hurt. Saying he is hitting better than the rest of the leagues back up catchers is irrelevant because almost no one else has 3 catchers. He is hitting .200 since his first couple break out games to start the year. Thats bad, and that's a liability in the lineup regardless of what position he plays. He is also sub par behind the plate and watching him try to block sliders is taking years off my life. He is an asset to have off the bench sure, but he should never be starting unless someone is hurt, at least in my mind. He can be a cheer leader from the bench, id rather have someone up there who is actually going to get it out of the infield on a consistent basis. Chemistry be damned. 

[USAFChief]

 

Its working because of Garver and Castro. We only needed him up here because Garver was hurt. Saying he is hitting better than the rest of the leagues back up catchers is irrelevant because almost no one else has 3 catchers. He is hitting .200 since his first couple break out games to start the year. Thats bad, and that's a liability in the lineup regardless of what position he plays. He is also sub par behind the plate and watching him try to block sliders is taking years off my life. He is an asset to have off the bench sure, but he should never be starting unless someone is hurt, at least in my mind. He can be a cheer leader from the bench, id rather have someone up there who is actually going to get it out of the infield on a consistent basis. Chemistry be damned. 

A month ago, many posters wanted Castro DFA'd or traded since we didn't need him with Garver and La Tortuga.

 

Arraez can go back to Rochester and play every day, which is better for him and the team in the long run. He doesn't provide much that isn't already on the bench anyway, and he's not really a 1.000 OPS guy. 

 

For this team, right now, it makes way more sense to keep Astudillo around, and let him fill in when/where necessary. 

 

 

[KFEY93]

 

What a great opportunity for Arraez.  And he confirmed that he will play at the major league level exactly as he has done every step of the way.  Expect he has done a lot to confirm to management that he can be their starting second baseman in 2020.  May cool any interest the Twins had in resigning Schoop as well as increasing the likelihood that Gordon might be included in any deadline deal.  

 

Won't it be great mixing one guy with a .400 OBP in with all those big boppers.  Expect we will see him back as soon as there is an injury.  If not, on September 1.

I liked what I saw from him but I am going to pump the breaks, small sample size and all. I would wait and see if we could keep Scoop one more year at least. I really like him. Would be sad to see him go. 

[KFEY93]

 

A month ago, many posters wanted Castro DFA'd or traded since we didn't need him with Garver and La Tortuga.

 

Arraez can go back to Rochester and play every day, which is better for him and the team in the long run. He doesn't provide much that isn't already on the bench anyway, and he's not really a 1.000 OPS guy. 

 

For this team, right now, it makes way more sense to keep Astudillo around, and let him fill in when/where necessary. 

I cant argue with that. The right move this time around, I just dont see Astudilo being a long term answer anywhere on this team and the poster was asking what the hate for him was for. I gave my reasoning for it. 

[adjacent]

My humble take: Arraez played very well, but it doesn't hurt anything having him as depth in AAA. Astudillo probably is not so hot right now, but there is really no need to add more people to the bullpen (unless we are talking about signing Kimbrel or a trade for a really good arm). So, with his versatility, I would leave things as they are so far. If we have a couple of games that tax the bullpen, things may change.

[MNT1996]

 

Chemistry be damned. 

 

You underestimate how important this is to a club.

[rickybeathard]

Not sure why people are criticizing Astudillo here. Inconsistency has been an issue, but didn't he have 2 hits and 2 RBIs on Friday? Dude is consistently fun to watch, even though I would love to see him string together a series of games like he did earlier in the year.