Should the Twins Bring Back Luis Arraez?

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Thomas Shea-Imagn Images (Twins), © David Richard-Imagn Images (Marlins), © Denis Poroy-Imagn Images (Padres)

This weekend, Twins fans get their first chance to welcome back an old friend. Luis Arraez, the beloved batting champ traded before the 2023 season, will step into the batter’s box at Target Field for the first time since the deal that sent him to Miami for Pablo López. It feels like the right moment to ask if the Twins should consider bringing Arraez back this offseason.

Arraez made his debut with the Twins in 2019 and quickly became one of the most popular players on the roster. With his trademark wiggle in the box, his smile, and his uncanny ability to put together professional at-bats, he reminded fans of Rod Carew. In four seasons with Minnesota, Arraez hit .314 with a 119 OPS+, proving himself one of baseball’s most consistent contact hitters. His 2022 batting title capped off his Twins tenure before the blockbuster trade that sent him to Miami.

The move was controversial at the time, but it is hard to call it anything other than a success for Minnesota. López has become an ace and a clubhouse leader. Arraez, meanwhile, was traded again at the 2024 deadline, this time from Miami to San Diego. His production slipped, and in 2025, he is hitting .283 with a below-average OPS+ of 94. That is the risk for a player whose value rests almost entirely on batting average. When the hits stop falling, there is not much else to buoy the profile.

Which begs the question: could the Twins actually be the team to give him another chance?

First base has been a revolving door this year. Ty France was given the job to start the season, but his struggles led to a midseason exit. Kody Clemens has held down the spot since then, but his production has cooled, and he looks more like a bench piece than an everyday starter. There's no heir-apparent prospect, and Edouard Julien does not project as a long-term answer at first base. That leaves the Twins looking externally to solve the problem, and free agency seems like the most logical path.

Arraez will hit free agency this winter after earning $14 million in his final arbitration season with San Diego. He will not command a massive contract, especially coming off a down year, and that is exactly the type of market the Twins usually shop in. Given the team’s ownership situation and expected payroll constraints, a cost-effective reunion with a fan favorite could make a lot of sense. He is still only 28 years old, with time to rebound closer to his batting title form. At worst, he provides a reliable floor, a contact-first bat who can give professional plate appearances and lengthen the lineup. At best, he finds his groove again and stabilizes the top of the order.

And there is also the human element. If the front office does what many expect and trades away stars like López or Joe Ryan, the 2026 roster could be a tough sell. Bringing Arraez back would not just patch a hole on the field. It would inject life, energy, and joy into a clubhouse and fanbase that desperately need it.

Of course, there are reasons for hesitation. Arraez is a one-dimensional player with declining skills. He does not hit for power, does not run well, and offers little defensive versatility. If his average continues to slip, his value collapses quickly. The Twins also need to decide whether investing even modest dollars at first base is wise when other needs, particularly bullpen and shortstop depth, may be more pressing.

Luis Arraez may not be the perfect solution, but the fit feels right. He would give the Twins a cost-conscious option, a steady presence in the lineup, and a much-needed morale boost for the fanbase. It might not be a long-term fix, but it could be the kind of reunion that makes sense for both sides.

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What do you think, should the Twins bring Arraez back this winter? Would he be worth the gamble, or should the team look elsewhere for their first baseman of the future?

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[Major League Ready]

He is going to end up with roughly 1.7 WAR (in total) for the last two years.  Probably around .5-.6 this year.  How will that help?  Outman produced 3.9 WAR his 1st season which is better than Arraez has ever done.  Should we believe Outman is going back to 4 WAR?  It's possible but I sure would not bet on it.

[thelanges5]

Fedko has been playing some 1B at St. Paul the past couples weeks. 

[JBK]

Yes.  Forget the WAR.  The man gets on base and doesn't make stupid outs.  He puts the bat on the ball and when you do that, anything can happen.  Put it this way, he's the opposite of Royce Lewis.  Let Clemens be the valuable UT.

Fire Rocco!

[FlyingFinn]

5 minutes ago, JBK said:

He puts the bat on the ball and when you do that, anything can happen. 

Including double play grounders like last night. He's fun to watch but is a one tool player with that being the bat, without power. And he doesn't run well, when healthy. I am very intrigued how much he gets in free agency. The Twins are certainly not paying out much money for free agents.

[DJL44]

The question is not Yes or No but “At what price should the Twins be interested?”

I wouldn’t advocate signing Arraez to a multiyear multimillion dollar contract. One year at $5M or less would be fine.

[Patzky]

The Arraez Solano Polanco type is always a welcome reprieve form the Joey Gallo three true outcomes. But.. the whole reason the core is gutted is to move on. I appreciate the sentiment of Arraez returning but goodwill can also be maintained by hanging onto Pablo. 

Said that but I could easily see the Twins looking at Santana again, or even France for a song. I miss em but I'd rather see Sabato or someone else from inside the organization. A month ago I would have said How About Royce, but his defense has improved.

[Doctor Gast]

I'm a big fan of Arraez, but like you said he's a diminishing one-dimensional player. His light/contact hitting/ slow running 1Bman doesn't fit. Another Boras client, he'll cost more than what he's worth. Constantly looking outside the organization has hurt us. We have so many candidates who can solidify 1B if given the opportunity. But I don't put it by the Twins to sign Arraez, unfortunately. After such a drastic sell-off it's ridiculous to consider FA. We have bigger needs that can be solved via trade.

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Said that but I could easily see the Twins looking at Santana again, or even France for a song. I miss em but I'd rather see Sabato or someone else from inside the organization. 

Aaron Sabato as your "Plan A" would be a really bad idea. He's not one of the top ten first basemen in AAA. I'd rather give 30-year old Nick Solak the job.

[mike8791]

No way!  The Twins sorely lack middle of the lineup power..   DH/1B  are the two positions that could supply said power.   My god, we have guys like Wallner, Lee, Clemens batting cleanup.  No wonder our offense sucks!!

Unloading  Lopez's salary, together with Correa's, could enable the Twins to add a real   power threat in FA.  You have guys like  Schwarber,  Alonzo, Naylor entering FA.  Any one of these guys would provide an immediate lift  to this moribund lineup.  While trading Lopez will hurt, if the Twins use the savings to acquire a proven big bat, it's worth trading from the one area of depth remaining on this team.   I personally like a starting five of Ryan, Ober, Mathews, SWR/Abel, Festa/Bradley.  No, this is not a staff that will get us to a WS, but at least it should be competitive if the offense is improved.  Yes, we would need to add an experienced closer to compete, but at least there's a base for competition.  And trading Lopez should at least add strength to our prospect list.

Do I actually think ownership would spend big in FA?  No, but there's always hope they'll come to their senses before this franchise becomes totally irrelevant!  Arraez is not the answer here.

[DJL44]

11 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

We have so many candidates who can solidify 1B if given the opportunity.

Who? I can't think of any. If they exist, why aren't they on the roster right now?

[Thumbs Down Guy]

"It would inject life, energy, and joy into a clubhouse and fanbase that desperately need it."

I just do not see that signing Arraez would do any of things. Ultimately I believe that the fanbase would be disappointed with his play and regret having their fond memories ruined.

Just play the young guys.

[Vanimal46]

Arraez would hit the nostalgia feelings of better times while we toil away in 2026. Concur with @DJL44if we can sign him to a 1/$5 million or less contract I’m fine with bringing him back. 

[DJL44]

What is the Venn diagram of "I'm never paying for another game as long as the Pohlads own the team" and "I love Luis Arraez, he's a player worth the ticket price"?

[Road trip]

It is hard to see a scenario where the Twins bring Arraez back unless his salary REALLY drops...but I'd kind of like to see it happen, even for just a year.  The Twins are so...lifeless.  Arraez played with joy but also a certain focused intensity in the batters box.  He won't fill some of the obvious team needs (speed, defense) but at least he might bring some enthusiasm to a squad that sometimes seems to be emotionally dead.  

 

[Nashvilletwin]

The only way they bring back Luis is so that I would tune in to watch EVERY ONE of ABs.  Because I would. 

[TopGunn#22]

I loved watching Arraez battle thru his Twins AB's but all his negatives have been accurately listed.  1B/DH is a position for power.  Luis is NOT that.  I agree 100% that it comes down to what he would cost.  But Yandy Diaz, a career .288 hitter with 22 HR's this year is older (34) but a better option.

Why the Twins haven't tried to work Wallner or Larnach into a 1B role confounds me.  Especially with Walker Jenkins, E-Rod and Gabe Gonzalez coming soon.  Fedko, if he really has put some time in at 1B for the Saints should get a look come September 1st.  He's hot as a pistol, give him a chance to impress.

I would also posit that Tristan Casas, the injured Boston 1B would be a better option with 30 HR power once he's returned from his knee injury.  Boston is lusting after Joe Ryan.  Get a premium price with Jaren Duran headlining the trade.

Red Sox Get:  Joe Ryan 68.2   Matt Wallner 29.5 and Cody Clemens 8.4.  Total Value: 106.1

Twins Get:  Jarren Duran 64.4  Payton Tolle 20.0  Tristan Casas 0.0 and Franklin Arias 22.1  Value: 106.50

The Red Sox get Ryan.  They get a power bat to platoon with the loss of Duran and they get the son of Roger Clemens to be a utility guy.

The Twins get an All Star caliber OF to put next to Buxton (and provide CF insurance) at the top of their order.  They get a young LH SP in Tolle who just made his major debut in fine fashion.  Tolle competes to replace Ryan in the rotation.  Casas is a young 1B with a below average glove but tremendous power.  He replaces Wallner in the lineup with equal power potential but better and more consistent contact.  The Twins also add an 18 year old SS prospect in Franklin Arias who has a great chance to stick at SS and loads the Twins up even more at SS with Houston and Culpepper. 

The value is equal.  Casas currently sits at zero for value until he proves his comeback from knee surgery is on track.  The Red Sox Sox do this because they are desperate to get Ryan.

Twins rotation:  Lopez, Ober, Tolle, Abel, Matthews (Festa, SWR, Bradley). 

Lineup:  Duran LF, Keaschall 2B, Buxton CF, R. Lewis 3B, Casas 1B, Walker Jenkins RF, Jeffers C, Brooks Lee SS, Take your pick for DH. 

Sign a Closer like Helsley for $6-$7 million and you've got a team to compete with the Tigers in their final year (half year?) of having Tarik Skubal.  

[ashbury]

Clickbait article.  Not happening.

[terrydactyls]

15 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I loved watching Arraez battle thru his Twins AB's but all his negatives have been accurately listed.  1B/DH is a position for power.  Luis is NOT that.  I agree 100% that it comes down to what he would cost.  But Yandy Diaz, a career .288 hitter with 22 HR's this year is older (34) but a better option.

Why the Twins haven't tried to work Wallner or Larnach into a 1B role confounds me.  Especially with Walker Jenkins, E-Rod and Gabe Gonzalez coming soon.  Fedko, if he really has put some time in at 1B for the Saints should get a look come September 1st.  He's hot as a pistol, give him a chance to impress.

I would also posit that Tristan Casas, the injured Boston 1B would be a better option with 30 HR power once he's returned from his knee injury.  Boston is lusting after Joe Ryan.  Get a premium price with Jaren Duran headlining the trade.

Red Sox Get:  Joe Ryan 68.2   Matt Wallner 29.5 and Cody Clemens 8.4.  Total Value: 106.1

Twins Get:  Jarren Duran 64.4  Payton Tolle 20.0  Tristan Casas 0.0 and Franklin Arias 22.1  Value: 106.50

The Red Sox get Ryan.  They get a power bat to platoon with the loss of Duran and they get the son of Roger Clemens to be a utility guy.

The Twins get an All Star caliber OF to put next to Buxton (and provide CF insurance) at the top of their order.  They get a young LH SP in Tolle who just made his major debut in fine fashion.  Tolle competes to replace Ryan in the rotation.  Casas is a young 1B with a below average glove but tremendous power.  He replaces Wallner in the lineup with equal power potential but better and more consistent contact.  The Twins also add an 18 year old SS prospect in Franklin Arias who has a great chance to stick at SS and loads the Twins up even more at SS with Houston and Culpepper. 

The value is equal.  Casas currently sits at zero for value until he proves his comeback from knee surgery is on track.  The Red Sox Sox do this because they are desperate to get Ryan.

Twins rotation:  Lopez, Ober, Tolle, Abel, Matthews (Festa, SWR, Bradley). 

Lineup:  Duran LF, Keaschall 2B, Buxton CF, R. Lewis 3B, Casas 1B, Walker Jenkins RF, Jeffers C, Brooks Lee SS, Take your pick for DH. 

Sign a Closer like Helsley for $6-$7 million and you've got a team to compete with the Tigers in their final year (half year?) of having Tarik Skubal.  

Tristan Casas with zero value?  This is why I think BTV is stupid.  The main point of this trade is to acquire Casas who has no value? 

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Fedko has been playing some 1B at St. Paul the past couples weeks. 

This is really good to hear. I’m really glad to see that the organization is taking a good right handed hitting outfielder that doesn’t really have a path to the majors and playing him somewhere where he could actually add value. I would love to see Fedko get some run in September and I’d love to see him get a chance to compete for the 1B job in spring training. Wow, moving guys positions in the minors to try to make them more valuable and stealing a lot of bases in the same week? Aliens replaced the front office?

Look, I love me some Luis Arraez, but he’s not what we need other than as Maybe a one year stop gap. He could be an interesting platoon partner/bench bat, but that’s about it at this point.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, JBK said:

Yes.  Forget the WAR.  

Fine.  We can talk about Runs.  This year Luis Arraez has scored 53 of 'em.  He's driven in 49.

In fewer plate appearances (480 to Luis's 567), Trevor Larnach's numbers are 54 and 53, respectively.  Is anyone really lobbying for another Larnach in the Twins batting order?

In slightly fewer plate appearance still (455), Carlos Santana racked up 49 and 52, and he just got released, despite reputedly being better with the glove than either of these two.

[Mike Sixel]

This can't be a real idea. 

[Nashvilletwin]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This can't be a real idea. 

Exactly.  There is no chance in H E double toothpicks. 

[David HK]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

What is the Venn diagram of "I'm never paying for another game as long as the Pohlads own the team" and "I love Luis Arraez, he's a player worth the ticket price"?

A rhombus and an isosceles triangle? 🤔

[TNtwins85]

No.

[ashbury]

31 minutes ago, David HK said:

A rhombus and an isosceles triangle? 🤔

I looked for a meme involving three rhinoceroses Latin-dancing, but came up empty.  Perhaps I mis-read.

[hitterscount]

Cannot and should not happen..... so it just might.

[Major League Ready]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Who? I can't think of any. If they exist, why aren't they on the roster right now?

I would give Fedko an opportunity.  It would give him a chance to prove he can hit at the major league level that he might not get otherwise given the number of OFers we have that are ready or near ready.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

This can't be a real idea. 

Signing a fan favorite to offset plummeting ticket sales isn’t the worst idea 

[hitterscount]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Signing a fan favorite to offset plummeting ticket sales isn’t the worst idea 

Just don't think bringing in a slap hitter that is another below average defender is moving the ticket sales when the team is winning at a .400 clip... just my initial thoughts