Arraez not expected to play outfield in 2022

[Riverbrian]

11 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Right now Urshela is the starting SS, no?

Well yeah, at this point of the STORY. He would be. 

However, every good STORY has an arc to it.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

31 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Well yeah, at this point of the STORY. He would be. 

However, every good STORY has an arc to it.

I like your STORY but don’t buy it

i think Arraez will keep Martin’s seat warm at 3B until he forces the issue or Arraez might get flipped in a package for pitching

[MinnInPa]

just make sure he's in the lineup every day (occasional day off)...3B, 2B,  DH,   pure hitter..fun to watch play....just a pleasure to watch a player these days that doesnt K 30% of the time

[Riverbrian]

31 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

I like your STORY but don’t buy it

i think Arraez will keep Martin’s seat warm at 3B until he forces the issue or Arraez might get flipped in a package for pitching

There are certainly no guarantees of a Hollywood ending here.

A good title would be "Two to Tango". A cliched title for sure but fitting. 

These are the moments where freewill bugs me because we can't force Story to ignore all other offers and take ours. 

At the moment, it sure feels like Arraez would be someone floated in a trade package to the A's. Yet... it also feels like the A's aren't looking for anybody that has some service time usage. 

If the STORY goes elsewhere. We will still need a SS so a plan B has to reveal itself. I have no idea what that is. I'm just going to keep eating popcorn.  

[Heistyman]

Could Polanco play third with Arraez at second and Gio at short and Gordon the utility?  I don't recall seeing Polanco play third but baseball reference shows he has.  Awaiting the attack.

[stringer bell]

8 hours ago, Heistyman said:

Could Polanco play third with Arraez at second and Gio at short and Gordon the utility?  I don't recall seeing Polanco play third but baseball reference shows he has.  Awaiting the attack.

Going into 2021, I was of the opinion that Polanco should move around and Arraez be a fixture at second base. The Twins staff thought otherwise and Polanco thrived as a second baseman. I still think Arraez' best position is second base, but apparently the same is true for the unblinking Polanco. 

According to the fielding metrics, Arraez is fine at third and Polanco is fine at second. It really makes no sense to switch those two. What will it take for Miranda to get a shot? Would it require an injury to either Polanco or Arraez? I do see Miranda as the future at third base, especially with Donaldson wearing pinstripes.

[stringer bell]

17 hours ago, USAFChief said:

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.

While I don't disagree with anything (facts or opinion) that you wrote, Arraez has been a good player and offers skills most of the rest of the position players lack. He makes contact, works the count and will take a walk. No one else on the major league roster has his level of table setter skills. He also is young. He won't turn 25 until after Opening Day.

That said, he also has shown vulnerability to left handed pitching. He gets on a fair amount, but produces almost no extra base hits. A good team would limit his at bats against southpaws. I think there should be real concerns about his durability in the long term. 

If I'm running the Twins, I see to it that Arraez is in the lineup, batting first, against almost all right handed pitching. Further, since there isn't anyone who has staked a claim on left field, I guess I wouldn't rule out using him in left field, but of course, that's not my call.

 

 

[Minny505]

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

While I don't disagree with anything (facts or opinion) that you wrote, Arraez has been a good player and offers skills most of the rest of the position players lack. He makes contact, works the count and will take a walk. No one else on the major league roster has his level of table setter skills. He also is young. He won't turn 25 until after Opening Day.

That said, he also has shown vulnerability to left handed pitching. He gets on a fair amount, but produces almost no extra base hits. A good team would limit his at bats against southpaws. I think there should be real concerns about his durability in the long term. 

If I'm running the Twins, I see to it that Arraez is in the lineup, batting first, against almost all right handed pitching. Further, since there isn't anyone who has staked a claim on left field, I guess I wouldn't rule out using him in left field, but of course, that's not my call.

 

 

As it stands right now, Arraez is your opening day 3B. Even if we get a SS, Arraez should be the starting 3B against RHP over Urshela because...

Sano is an abomination at 1B, so he has to DH. Having Kirilloff play 1B for 150 games vs Sano is a legit 40run/4WAR swing just on defense. It's crazy to compare their defense. 

And Urshela at 3B with Arraez at DH does not win as many games as Arraez at 3B and Sano at DH. 

[joefish]

14-2 today's game. No sweat. We have nothing to worry about.

[railmarshalljon]

Someone will be injured and Arraez will find his way into the lineup. I won't lose sleep over it.