Arraez not expected to play outfield in 2022

[Vanimal46]

In other role preparation news…

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Quote

the Twins are not having him prepare to play the OF this season.

To be fair, at times it looked like the Twins didn't have him prepare to play the OF in 2021 either.

[Mike Sixel]

Good deal. 

[chpettit19]

Makes sense to me. Have him bounce between 3B/2B/DH.

[Otto von Ballpark]

In the infield, we will have Polanco starting every day somewhere. Likely Urshela too, as the roster currently stands. Then there's Gordon who is out of options, and Miranda ready to debut after 373 PA at AAA last year. (And of course Sano at 1B if we include that spot.)

Meanwhile, in the outfield, we have Buxton and Kepler set to start, but Kirilloff coming off surgery and Larnach and Rooker both coming off poor seasons.

Looks like there may still be an easier path to playing time, at least in the near future, in LF?

[Riverbrian]

Not Expected - However, the unexpected should be expected. 

[USAFChief]

32 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

To be fair, at times it looked like the Twins didn't have him prepare to play the OF in 2021 either.

I was going to go with "he didn't actually PLAY left field last year either" but I like your snark better.

[chpettit19]

16 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

In the infield, we will have Polanco starting every day somewhere. Likely Urshela too, as the roster currently stands. Then there's Gordon who is out of options, and Miranda ready to debut after 373 PA at AAA last year. (And of course Sano at 1B if we include that spot.)

Meanwhile, in the outfield, we have Buxton and Kepler set to start, but Kirilloff coming off surgery and Larnach and Rooker both coming off poor seasons.

Looks like there may still be an easier path to playing time, at least in the near future, in LF?

Sign Story and Conforto, trade Sano or Urshela. That'd be my plan, but I don't run the Twins. As it stands Gordon is probably UTIL, Urshela at SS (gross), Miranda and Arraez at 3B and 2B when Polanco or Urshela sit/DH. Not an encouraging defensive setup by any stretch, but I'm guessing that's what it looks like if we hit April 7 with this roster.

[Mike Sixel]

36 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

In the infield, we will have Polanco starting every day somewhere. Likely Urshela too, as the roster currently stands. Then there's Gordon who is out of options, and Miranda ready to debut after 373 PA at AAA last year. (And of course Sano at 1B if we include that spot.)

Meanwhile, in the outfield, we have Buxton and Kepler set to start, but Kirilloff coming off surgery and Larnach and Rooker both coming off poor seasons.

Looks like there may still be an easier path to playing time, at least in the near future, in LF?

He's not a good OF. I'm hoping they decide that Martin is the LF at some point this year (assuming he's not a SS). There really isn't a path for him other than utility/DH on this roster, imo. (assuming Urshela is the 3B, if he's the SS, then Arraez can play 3B until Miranda is promoted).

I'm still hoping they bring in a SS....

[Rosterman]

Gordon and Arraez is a bounty of luxury, two capable middle infielders. Gordon can maybe sub in centerfield, but why....

 

So, where does Arraez play? Certainly not shortstop, the Twins biggest need, especially if they go lowball and advance Beckham to the spot (I still feel the Twins would've signed him for a 40-man spot except for the lockout). We also fault Gordon as a shortstop. Martin is being groomed as an outfielder? We have a lot of stock in Royce Lewis, who for all intents and purpose could start at AA ball because of his late spring, for sure.

 

What a mess the Twins are in!

 

[tony&rodney]

Can you imagine the look on Arraez's face when he was told he would play outfield. Sometimes a player who is very athletic can make the shift (Gordon boys), but it is usually a bad idea and some players have caught enough fly balls growing up to be mediocre. Arraez is an infielder though and i always felt for him when he was pushed out there, similar to the experiment with Sano in RF. Arraez should be fine at 3B. Miranda? Maybe he is going to Oakland - who knows.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

In other role preparation news…

""I’d like him to focus his attention on playing all around the infield. That’s what’s going to get him ready, and that’s where we’re going to play him."

I'm glad we brought in Rocco Baldelli as manager this season.  That last guy really screwed up Arraez's focus.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

I'm glad we brought in Rocco Baldelli as manager this season.  That last guy really screwed up Arraez's focus.

Or, the FO decided they wanted to try it last year, and it didn't work......so they are focusing him now? Who knows?

[ashbury]

16 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Or, the FO decided they wanted to try it last year, and it didn't work......so they are focusing him now? Who knows?

His quote, lacking context, just sounded a little humorous, is all.  Sort of like a performance review where in the "needs improvement" box they direct the employee to work on his focus.*  Had Rocco said something more like "we jerked him around last year and we won't repeat that," it wouldn't quite have sounded like putting the blame on the player, so much.  But again, the quote as presented lacks context of what may have been said just before or just after, so I'm certainly not leveling a serious criticism.

 

*I will reply "no comment" to anyone who suggests I am projecting from personal experience

[Richmond Dude]

3 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Can you imagine the look on Arraez's face when he was told he would play outfield. Sometimes a player who is very athletic can make the shift (Gordon boys), but it is usually a bad idea and some players have caught enough fly balls growing up to be mediocre. Arraez is an infielder though and i always felt for him when he was pushed out there, similar to the experiment with Sano in RF. Arraez should be fine at 3B. Miranda? Maybe he is going to Oakland - who knows.

Good insight.  As bad as last year was, I appreciated that Arraez was willing to try for what the team leadership thought was best in the circumstance..  I'm glad they have rethought it, though.  I think it will help his bat to play his more natural positions.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Richmond Dude said:

Good insight.  As bad as last year was, I appreciated that Arraez was willing to try for what the team leadership thought was best in the circumstance..  I'm glad they have rethought it, though.  I think it will help his bat to play his more natural positions.

Agreed. He can flat out hit. If they can find a good position for him, he's a good MLB player. That clearly is not the OF.....

I am beginning to think they should move Polanco back to SS, assuming they don't bring another one in.....and put Arraez at 2B. 

[Richmond Dude]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Agreed. He can flat out hit. If they can find a good position for him, he's a good MLB player. That clearly is not the OF.....

I am beginning to think they should move Polanco back to SS, assuming they don't bring another one in.....and put Arraez at 2B. 

Personally, I wouldn't risk breaking Polanco.  I think the loss of performance at SS for him was even worse than the loss for Arraez in LF.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Richmond Dude said:

Personally, I wouldn't risk breaking Polanco.  I think the loss of performance at SS for him was even worse than the loss for Arraez in LF.

Then Arraez has to be your DH or 3B to play every day. Which, cool. Then trade Miranda for some pitching. 

[USAFChief]

Every part of Arraez' offense has declined each year since his debut. BA, OBP, and SLG have each dropped...2020 worse than 2019, 2021 worse than 2020. It's only a 2 year trend. And 2020 doesn't really count, due to sample size, but still.

Last year he put up a 105 OPS+, with little power. There's a decent chance, IMO, that's going down again this year.

He hasn't shown the ability to be a defensive plus anywhere. Seems to have old man legs.

I don't think he needs to be wedged into the lineup.

[Richmond Dude]

11 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Then Arraez has to be your DH or 3B to play every day. Which, cool. Then trade Miranda for some pitching. 

I'd be okay with this.  Alternatively, SS and 2B get a day off every week and he fits there, too.  I just want him to play.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

40 minutes ago, ashbury said:

His quote, lacking context, just sounded a little humorous, is all.  Sort of like a performance review where in the "needs improvement" box they direct the employee to work on his focus.*  Had Rocco said something more like "we jerked him around last year and we won't repeat that," it wouldn't quite have sounded like putting the blame on the player, so much.  But again, the quote as presented lacks context of what may have been said just before or just after, so I'm certainly not leveling a serious criticism.

 

*I will reply "no comment" to anyone who suggests I am projecting from personal experience

I thought you were listening in on my performance review, until I read the fine print

[ashbury]

39 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

I thought you were listening in on my performance review, until I read the fine print

They've been jerking you around and I hope they won't repeat that.

[Nashvilletwin]

Great (sarcasm).  So if that’s the case, then it sounds more and more like Urshela is our new starting SS, Arraez and Miranda (when they bring him up) play 3B. Polanco is at 2B. 

If the FO were truly interested in signing Story, then there wouldn’t be very many ABs for Arraez and Gordon as the two utility players unless one or the other plays a bit of OF.

Also, the team needs another C of Sanchez is going to get ABs at DH.

Maybe Arraez can play catcher - he’d probably be better than Sanchez.

Geez, I do not like where we are at this point……

[wsnydes]

6 hours ago, ashbury said:

I'm glad we brought in Rocco Baldelli as manager this season.  That last guy really screwed up Arraez's focus.

[wsnydes]

This is also a good move.  With the plethora of other substandard defensive outfield types in the mix, no reason to add to it with a guy that can at least play adequate infield defense.

[baul0010]

8 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Makes sense to me. Have him bounce between 3B/2B/DH.

I'm sure you could also throw him at 1st to spell Kirilloff.

[Danchat]

It would make sense to use Urshela more as a utility guy (think Marwin Gonzalez role) and have Arraez start at 3B, but he'll likely be replaced at some point by Miranda. Some of the defensive stats say Arraez was decent at 3B, but he didn't pass the eye test for me. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

3 minutes ago, Danchat said:

It would make sense to use Urshela more as a utility guy (think Marwin Gonzalez role) and have Arraez start at 3B, but he'll likely be replaced at some point by Miranda. Some of the defensive stats say Arraez was decent at 3B, but he didn't pass the eye test for me. 

Right now Urshela is the starting SS, no?

[Danchat]

2 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

Right now Urshela is the starting SS, no?

Right now, yes, but I think they will add a primary SS to the roster. I haven't seen the numbers, but I am guessing that he is not that good of a SS, or the Yankees wouldn't have replaced him with IKF.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Sconnie said:

Right now Urshela is the starting SS, no?