Why Bringing Back Luis Arraez Makes More Sense Than You'd Think

On 11/6/2026 at 11:38 AM, DJL44 said:

RField has him as an average defender at 2B, but he’s still a 3 WAR player you can sign for $16M a season. That’s way better than what you can get spending $16M on the bullpen.

Rfield vs Baseball America, 

On 11/6/2026 at 11:57 AM, Linus said:

Call me a cynic but I’m calling BS on the defensive metrics. We’ve seen previous examples where they ying-yang all over the place in a given year. Common sense tells you that it is near impossible to consistently rate a poor fielder over the course of years and suddenly he’s great. Did he get demonstrably quicker and faster?  Seems unlikely at age 29 and that’s what it would take for him to improve that much in such a short period of time. 

Agree, here’s proof on the defensive metrics!

On 11/6/2026 at 1:55 PM, LA Vikes Fan said:

I'm in favor of this even if he is just now an average defensive 2B. Average at 2B is an upgrade over Clemens, who at 1B is an upgrade over Lewis at the plate and probably in the field. Arraez' bat helps this lineup tremendously as a high OBP machine at the front of the order with Keaschall. He will get 2 years $35m or 3 years $50m type deal. Let's not dream he will be cheaper. He won't be. I sign Arraez, trade Lewis for a change of scenery candidate (Grayson Rodriguez?), a C like Austin Wells,  or prospects, and move Clemens to IB backed up Roden as 1B/4th OF (Roden hits LH pitching well so I don't worry about 2 LH hitting 1Bs). I also consider trading Caratini for prospects and moving Jackson to the 2nd C role.  Lineup - Keaschall RF/DH, Arraez 2B, Buxton CF/DH, Jeffers C, Clemens 1B, Lee 3B, Jenkins OF/DH, Culpepper SS, ERod OF/DH. If Jeffers isn't re-signed, Trade for Austin Wells or sign Tyler Stephenson, Carson Kelly, or Auston Hedges. They hit 9, everyone else moves up 1. Bench is Roden (1B/OF/DH),  Caratini or Jackson (2nd C, could trade Caratini), Kreidler (UTL), Martin (2B/5th OF).

Baseball America’s survey of managers, executive and scouts places Arraez’s defense at near Gold Glove level!

On 11/6/2026 at 2:21 PM, Road trip said:

I love his bat, his attitude, his hustle...and he's just fun to watch.

I have doubts that the significant defensive improvement is sustainable, or even real.

My heart wants to sign Arraez, but my brain isn't really on board unless the price is right and the contract length is more like 2 years instead of 3.  But who know, maybe the price will be right?  He's a hard player to put a value on.  If the Phillies pass, well, the Yankees and Boston both may need help at 2b and will put in bids.  But maybe they don't value him either??  He might be one of those guys that will get progressively cheaper as the off season progresses.  That sort of happened last year when he finally signed with SF.

To allay your doubts about his defense, I googled for the human perspective

8 hours ago, arby58 said:

I’m a no on this. Arraez does one thing really well: he gets on base. He does the next thing - actually score runs - not nearly as well. He was tied for 102nd last year in runs scored with 67, and that is not an outlier for him. He rarely is anywhere near the top in MLBB runs scored.

Arraez is mostly a singles hitter who does not run well, and in his age 30 season next year, that isn’t going to change. Kody Clemens is a better fielder, baserunner, and power hitter than Arraez. He scored more runs (72) and had a similar WAR - and he makes a lot less than $16 million. Play him there and figure out other team needs with the saved $16 million.

Arraez has scored 88 runs in a full season and had 33 doubles, 7 triples and 6 HR last year plus 10 SB in 11 attempts.

7 triples and 10 SB in 11 attempts - does that make Clemens a better baserunner?

Also, quick, off the top of your head, since Rod Carew hit .388 in 1977, how many players have equaled Luis Arraez’s .354 batting average for a full major league season?

And as for Clemens defense being better, the experts disagree

16 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

as for Clemens defense being better, the experts disagree

Maybe you can post that blurb from Baseball America a seventh time….

5 hours ago, RpR said:

So far, short examples, Culpepper is starting to look like, Keaschall, good bat, not much glove.

Culpepper was a bit rough defensively with the Twins.   However, I watched a lot of his games with the Saints and he looked pretty darn good.  He is a far better defender than Keaschall.  It's not even close. 

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Maybe you can post that blurb from Baseball America a seventh time….

One was for you.

I guess you resent me trying to give the other side of the coin to the others, who mentioned Arraez’s defense being average (and who may just check their notifications only. I’m not sure everyone reads through all the comments).

Why does Rfield say he’s average, but outs above average of 12 (new defensive metrics), managers, executives and scouts have a consensus around his excellence defensively. 

I guess it’s not ok by you for me to do some research, find some powerful evidence, and the document it, such that those that need to be reassured are sure to see it.

geesh!

48 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

Why does Rfield say he’s average, but outs above average of 12 (new defensive metrics), managers, executives and scouts have a consensus around his excellence defensively.

Bean did a good job of explaining why. I don’t mind you having a different opinion but it isn’t necessary to make six posts in a row with the same content.

To be clear, I've always liked Arraez. He was a lot of fun to watch when with the Twins. He's a fine AVG/singles hitter. But he doesn't fit what they need now. They need a run producer, someone to knock in runs and can sit somewhere in the middle.of the lineup. That individual can either be 2B or 1B as Clemens can play either. 

With Keaschall claiming the #1 spot in the lineup, and 3 rookies in the lineup next season, a veteran presence to knock in runs is what's needed. And for all of his hitting ability, Arraez averages 63 R per season and 47 RBI as a mostly top of the lineup hitter. 

I'm sorry, but that's not a lot of run production. Even with the caveat of better seasons and better or worse teams played on different years. 

Again, I like Arraez. And it would be fun to see him bat #2 between Keaschall and Buxton. But the Twins really need another bat behind Buxton that "worries" pitchers. Someone with power and the ability to drive in runs.

I'm not sure who that person is at the moment...there are quite a few variables...but unfortunately it's probably not Bauers or Lowe based on potential total years and $ as well as each having the QO attached. But it's also not Arraez. Sorry.

Once they figure out who and what position to fill that role, the next thing they need is a utility/depth option for the INF. The backup SS/SU job is probably Kreidler's to begin the year. That's OK. But I'm hoping Ross, DeBarge, or someone else with a better bat replaces him. 

But we need better depth. We need someone who can cover 1B/2B/3B in some configuration with a halfway decent bat/OPS so that when someone is injured or needs a day off...(maybe platoon at 1B?)... we don't have to automatically replace them with a .170 AVG bat. Ironically, Lewis would be perfect for that role, even with a 85-90 OPS, were he willing to accept it, understanding he plays more the better he performs. I don’t know that he would accept that, and I don’t know that all parties might not be better off parting ways. 

That's TWO important spots to be filled on the INF. Smart decisions need to be made. I don't see Arraez being the answer to either of those spots.

11 hours ago, SE23 said:

Picture this in '28:

Houston @ SS

Culpepper @ 3B

Dubon @ 2B

Brooks Lee @ 1B

Clemens @ UTIL

Lee's value is his glove and accurate arm at 3B.  He does not have a big arm but the exchange and delivery is quick so he is effective.  I think you are going backwards where his utilization is concerned putting him a 1B.  He also is just not enough offensively to hold down 1B. 

Plus or minus depending on your perspective, we know Dubon is weak offensively.  Culpepper has more upside so why spend the money on Dubon.  Spend it on 1B and I believe you have a stronger INF and you still have Clemmens in a value role backing up 1B / 2B and corner OF spots.  Get a guy with a good enough offensive profile to DH if we are so fortunate as to have good health.  In that scenario, you can have Clemmens play some 1B if his bat is going.

35 minutes ago, SE23 said:

With Dubon you get premium multi-Gold Glove defense and flexibility to back up several positions in the IF and OF. His RH bat has played almost MLB-average the last few years, so "weak" is an overstatement.

Lee would be an outstanding first baseman with his natural glove feel and baseball IQ. Culpepper has all the tools to make his home at 3B. There's room in this lineup for all of them.

You are changing the scenario.  In the first post you had Dubon starting at 2B.  If the price reflects that of a back-up, I could go along with that but Dubon at 2B does not move the needle and I just don't see Lee at 1B as a good move.  A league average hitter at 1B is not a winning strategy.   You would have an INF of league average hitters with the exception of Culpepper who will likely be above average.  That's if Houston can hit league average.  What you have done is ensure mediocrity.  We will have to agree to disagree.  

55 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Martin, Lee, Lewis, Clemens, Keaschall, and Culpepper could all play 2B depending on how the front office views 2027. Topping that off, we have Houston who could be knocking at the door mid next year or maybe even earlier in a perfect world. We don't need 2B.

Keaschall was the worst defender in MLB when he was playing 2B. Martin isn’t much better. Neither are legitimate options at 2B. Brooks Lee is a plus defender at 3B but below average at 2B because he’s slow and has limited range. Lewis is about as good as Lee at 2B.

They have Clemens and nobody for depth at 2B.

13 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Bean did a good job of explaining why. I don’t mind you having a different opinion but it isn’t necessary to make six posts in a row with the same content.

it was  6/total universe of posts randomly scattered among all posts

it looks like 6 posts in a row because I sent the information to reassure or show there’s a powerful argument for Arraez being gold glove caliber

if the system attached my responses to the original post where it lived, which I thought it would  then my BA response would have occurred, then maybe 9 posts later, shown up for the next person that asserted his defense was average or mention "even if his defense is just average".

It may be partly generational or just preference but I have no confidence in the SABR influenced defensive metrics.

I prefer a professional baseball scout's 20-80 grade, skill by skill, and hopefully a cross section of scouts.

I don’t like WAR (biased toward power hitters, too much proportional emphasis on defense, no standards fWar might be 3.1 and bWar 4.1 for the same hitter, the same year), OPS+ (biased toward power hitters), FIP (fantasy stat).

I still believe that RBIs, Batting average and on base pct are the least biased and most instructive for hitters.

Thus, for me, Bell’s 96 RBIs are a great accomplishment and indicative of a skill relating to situational adaptiveness and discipline that no other Twin had, not Lee and not Clemens.

And having thrilled to the career of Rod Carew and changed my handedness and stance to model after Carew, I love high batting averages and frown on low ones.

Carew’s 5 year period of .350, .359, .364, .333, .388 taught me a lot about the value of hitting for average. He won his 7 batting titles by 30 points on average, double the margin for Honus Wagner for his 8 batting titles, which he won by on average of 15 points.

The other major influence was the 1977 Twins with Carew at .388, Bostock at .336 and Glenn Adams .338 and Larry Hisle .302 with 119 RBIs. I learned that a powerful offense built around a group of players with high batting averages could overcome a putrid pitching staff to finish 8 games above .500.

So that’s why I love Arraez’s career .316 and can’t get past the fact that he hit .354 for a full season.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, though it’s all just opinions that we all came to from an infinite variety of backgrounds and experience.

I’m just passionate about the Twins and want them to win from the core of my being, and feel that more high batting average guys would really help winning. I’m hoping for that and see that potential in Walker Jenkins and possibly Roden and even Luke Keaschall.

I also strongly feel that Lee, Clemens and Lewis could all help the team if they cut back on selling out for power and tried to hit more line drives to all fields and stopped chasing so much outside the zone. Their batting averages would all go up and thee Twins would win more. Lee should hit .300, Lewis .280 and Clemens at least .260.

I’ll only post this once :-)

Jenkins