Arraez Optioned

[Nine of twelve]

 

You underestimate how important this is to a club.

Or it could be that you overestimate it. My opinion is that having the best players on the roster is almost always the best chemistry.

[Ultima Ratio]

 

You underestimate how important this [chemistry] is to a club.

 

If/when Astudillo is sent down, surely a therapy goat can be brought aboard as part of the corresponding move to roam the dugout, quell the unrest.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

You underestimate how important this is to a club.

 

I think the problem is that none of us really know what the chemistry is... unless you have access to the clubhouse that we don't.  

 

Adversity tends to bring out chemistry issues. This team is facing very little of it. Obviously there are still club house cancers out there, but when everyone is doing their job, it makes everyone else's job that much easier.. That is something we have right now. 

 

I'm not sure "chemistry" is the reason to make or not make a decision unless there are serious problems that aren't public.

[Squirrel]

MODERATOR NOTE: This thread is not about team chemistry. I understand how the topic comes up when discussing the addition of players, but please do not take this thread off course by following a tangent down the wormhole. Please stick to topic. If you want to discuss team chemistry and what the addition of players might do to the current chemistry, please start your own discussion thread and avoid thread jacking other threads. Thank you.

[Harrison Greeley III]

I would support the idea of trading Arraez some time between now and 7/31. His stock is high and could return something valuable. He has a really nice approach and he seems like a valid major leaguer, but given the lack of power, the depth in the farm, and depressed free agency if a seller wants him in exchange for a good reliever with at least 1.5 years of team control...

[clone52]

I kinda doubt the Twins will go back to 8 pitchers soon, unless they get hit with some poor starts.

 

If they do Astudillo makes the most sense.  I don't think he needs to.  He has been slumping since he came back from injury, but really its more about not stringing together hits.  He has only gone hitless is 2 games in a row once in that cold streak.  A couple weeks in AAA might help him get his timing down.

 

The next option would be Adrianza, although I'd prefer to keep him.  I think you'd lose him entirely if you sent him down (although that would free up Arraez to take his place and you'd have to be okay with Marwin at SS a couple times a month.

 

More than likely, some other position player will get dinged up and this debate will be moot.

[Harrison Greeley III]

Astudillo just has an adjustment to make. He came up and hit everything. So pitchers adjusted by throwing out of the strike zone knowing they probably won't walk him. If he adds a little patience to his approach, or if you just give him some take signs in early counts, he'd get more hitter's counts and the adjustment is likely made. That's a realistic possibility. 

I don't think Baldelli considers him a third catcher as much as he considers him a utility guy that's willing to put on the gear. Also a catcher getting hurt and needing an IL stint or just a few days off is a likely scenario. A player like Astudillo takes the pressure off a catcher to play hurt. Then consider his contact skills in a game where players are striking out more than ever. That's very valuable to a manager. 

I would hit him lower in the lineup, but Baldelli's going to be slow to send him down. It's easy to see why. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Littel ... and yes, you are confused.

That's pretty much par for the course these days.... and really for my whole life.

[Rosterman]

Good move. But it sparks the question where does he play at Rochester and what will be the longterm fate of Nick Gordon. With Polanco heating up, either Aaraez or Gordon could be tradebait.

 

Willians could go back to the minors as he has options. Could catch more. No dynamite callup at that position at AAA ball right now.

 

Anyone know the potential fate of Lamonte Wade?

[stringer bell]

 

Astudillo just has an adjustment to make. He came up and hit everything. So pitchers adjusted by throwing out of the strike zone knowing they probably won't walk him. If he adds a little patience to his approach, or if you just give him some take signs in early counts, he'd get more hitter's counts and the adjustment is likely made. That's a realistic possibility. 

I don't think Baldelli considers him a third catcher as much as he considers him a utility guy that's willing to put on the gear. Also a catcher getting hurt and needing an IL stint or just a few days off is a likely scenario. A player like Astudillo takes the pressure off a catcher to play hurt. Then consider his contact skills in a game where players are striking out more than ever. That's very valuable to a manager. 

I would hit him lower in the lineup, but Baldelli's going to be slow to send him down. It's easy to see why. 

I agree with all that was written above with the exception of that Baldelli considers him a utility guy that's will to put on the gear. Astudillo got starts when both of the other catchers were healthy. To me, that indicates he is regarded as part of the catching rotation. With his bat cooling, I doubt Willians gets many starts behind the dish in the immediate future. He would be the candidate to be optioned if there is a need for an additional relief pitcher.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

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. 

Yes, this.

 

Arraez needs seasoning and is positionally limited. Astudillo is a pretty ideal 25th guy thanks to his flexibility. 

 

Don't kick the sleeping dog.

[nicksaviking]

 

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.

 

In a vacuum, I'd send Astudillo down, but he also gives the team the option to have Garver and Castro in the lineup at the same time.

 

Which is a pretty good option from my view.

 

Can Arreaz get some 3B reps down in AAA? I mean, I'd let him play SS at Rochester too on the off chance that he shows he can play the position, but I also don't really much care about the likely collapse of Rochester's defense because of it, and their manager probably does.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

In a vacuum, I'd send Astudillo down, but he also gives the team the option to have Garver and Castro in the lineup at the same time.

 

Which is a pretty good option from my view.

 

Can Arreaz get some 3B reps down in AAA? I mean, I'd let him play SS at Rochester too on the off chance that he shows he can play the position, but I also don't really much care about the likely collapse of Rochester's defense because of it, and their manager probably does.

 

For what it's worth, Arraez has played a bit of 3B and SS in the minors... not a ton, but he's not a 2B only guy.