Twins Know Winning Trumps Fun in Dealing Arraez

[Ted Schwerzler]

Last season the Minnesota Twins sold fewer tickets than they have at any point over the past decade. Attendance at Target Field dipped to levels that we haven’t seen since the Metrodome, and for the second straight season, a losing record was partly to blame. After announcing discounted tickets, Luis Arraez was traded, and fans now have voices with dollars again.

 

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

What Derek Falvey and Thad Levine are betting on is that winning will matter most.

There is no denying that Luis Arraez is a good baseball player. He was an All-Star while winning a Silver Slugger and being crowned the American League batting champion in 2022. His .316 average and .375 on-base percentage were noteworthy, and he posted those numbers while transitioning to an entirely new position.

When the Twins re-signed Carlos Correa this offseason, he was reunited with an infield he got to know last year. Arraez was his first baseman, and the group with Jose Miranda and Jorge Polanco became friends. It was a tight-knit infield, and moving on from any of them would bring up a few hurt feelings.

What Correa wants to do, however, is win, and that’s where the front office is focused as well.

It’s not as though the Twins couldn’t win with Arraez, but they certainly have more options at first base than they do in the starting rotation. Pablo Lopez was acquired not to be an ace but instead to fill a need to stock the starting five with as many quality arms as possible. With Lopez raising the bar and providing more pitching depth, it should be expected that Minnesota’s chances go up for the season.

When it was announced that Arraez was being dealt to the Miami Marlins, many fans would miss their batting champion. The last time a reigning batting champ was dealt came at the hands of Minnesota as well, when Rod Carew was sent to the Angels before the 1979 season. Having been fondly compared to each other and being someone incredibly easy to root for, a departure of Arraez was never going to sit well with many.

Entering the 2023 season, Lopez needs to pitch well for the sake of doing so and will forever be connected as the guy Minnesota acquired in giving up Arraez. Fans didn’t need to view Arraez through the same lens as they did Willians Astudillo. The former is a good player with actual utility, whereas the latter was much more of a mascot to distract from poor play. The casual fan may have ventured out to the ballpark wanting to see Arraez, and maybe they’ll stay away scorned at his departure. What has to matter most is generating as many wins as possible.

The Twins need to be both exciting and good at the same time. Eighty-one home games is a substantial amount, and the Twins look to pull as much as possible from ticket sales. There has never been a more affordable sport to watch in person than baseball, yet a team with Arraez and Correa last season wasn’t enough to break records. Wanting to flip the script on another losing season, figuring out a way to push the win total up is where Minnesota knows the money is.

As the 2023 Major League Baseball season gets underway, many fans will still be disappointed that Arraez isn’t in the dugout or taking the field. When the dust settles in October, plenty more fans will have shown up to a team that is committed to winning and puts the right foot forward on a nightly basis.

It’s never easy for a front office to trade a fan favorite, but Minnesota is not Pittsburgh dealing in only goodwill. This team can be good, and when Correa throws over to Alex Kirilloff in securing a postseason victory, everyone will have forgotten about what was while enjoying what is.

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[Blyleven2011]

I'll have to wait and see the twins play before I can proclaim them winners ... 

They have depth at every position  except maybe the bullpen  , we'll see how they put that together in spring training 

[mac098]

This was a very good move by the FO. Trading Arraez was the best move at the end of the day. Trading a player that was worth the most he may ever be worth right now is the best move we could have done. 

He's a player without a set position, little power, and no speed. He can play, but his intangibles leave little be desired. 

[Nashvilletwin]

Agree Ted. In Minnesota, “butts in the seats” is more a function of winning than in a lot of/most other markets.  So winning trumps everything.

Having said that, losing with a boring team…..well that is the worst possible scenario. If the Twins don’t compete, Lopez, no matter how he pitches, cannot save kick save attendance from the likes of Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Farmer and an out-of-the-lineup Buxton.

As they say, “you pay your money, and you take your chances”. 

[jmlease1]

23 minutes ago, mac098 said:

This was a very good move by the FO. Trading Arraez was the best move at the end of the day. Trading a player that was worth the most he may ever be worth right now is the best move we could have done. 

He's a player without a set position, little power, and no speed. He can play, but his intangibles leave little be desired. 

well, I'd say his intangibles were great. Good dude, popular with the fans and the team, entertaining style of play, etc. His lack of speed and true position other than "hitter" are pretty tangible.

I'm still bummed to see him go, even though I think it's a very reasonable trade.

If Kirilloff's wrist is finally right (and it's a big if) though, then I'm pretty excited. His last truly healthy season, he absolutely destroyed A-ball at age 20. Last season (in a small sample) he obliterated AAA pitching, even while rehabbing and trying to get the wrist figured out. he hit pretty well as a rookie in 2021 before the wrist gave out. he holds up fine as a LH hitter against LHP. I've always been a fan. 

[SwainZag]

I went to Target field in April last year and wanted Arraez gear and the Twins store inside the stadium didn't have a single piece of gear...shirt, jersey, anything.  Obviously his popularity grew as the season went on, but let's not act like he was a huge draw before the mid-way point for the average fan.  

Buxton was and still is the biggest draw on the Twins, when he's healthy he's one of the most exciting players to watch in baseball.  Either way, winning puts fans at the ballpark.

[roger]

The success of this trade will be based on how two players perform in 2023 and beyond.

First, will Lopez be at least a solid #2?  

And second, how will AK perform as hopefully, their starting first baseman?  If finally healthy, he can push the results of this trade onto the positive side of the ledger.

[Karbo]

1 hour ago, SwainZag said:

Buxton was and still is the biggest draw on the Twins, when he's healthy he's one of the most exciting players to watch in baseball.  Either way, winning puts fans at the ballpark.

This is why the Twins should start Buxton for all home games unless he's hurt. If they want rest him do it on the road!

[HokieRif]

That last paragraph is all I have to cling to. I’m very frustrated that this happened or even had to happen, and we traded an proven player for someone that we hope will be great.  

[Brandon]

10 hours ago, Karbo said:

This is why the Twins should start Buxton for all home games unless he's hurt. If they want rest him do it on the road!

I started to like this but then i realized i live near Angels stadium.  Buxton needs to play on the road in warm climate areas too.

[HoskenPowell]

Winning solves a LOT of problems , including attendence!!!!!

I like the off season so far and will love it if they can add a solid LK pen piece.

[Otaknam]

I love how Arraez plays old school baseball, something in short supply today with the focus on home runs and exit velocity. But the trade makes sense because of Arraez’ one tool, hitting for average and an on base machine. I was expecting the Twins would have to include some other pretty good prospect too, but the reverse happened and we got two highly regarded, though young,  Miami prospect instead. That’s a very good return IMO. 

[JD-TWINS]

22 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

well, I'd say his intangibles were great. Good dude, popular with the fans and the team, entertaining style of play, etc. His lack of speed and true position other than "hitter" are pretty tangible.

I'm still bummed to see him go, even though I think it's a very reasonable trade.

If Kirilloff's wrist is finally right (and it's a big if) though, then I'm pretty excited. His last truly healthy season, he absolutely destroyed A-ball at age 20. Last season (in a small sample) he obliterated AAA pitching, even while rehabbing and trying to get the wrist figured out. he hit pretty well as a rookie in 2021 before the wrist gave out. he holds up fine as a LH hitter against LHP. I've always been a fan. 

BIG IF is correct with Kirilof - he had career saving surgery. Fingers crossed!! If he can’t get on the field we’ll have to roll with Gallo.

Still sensitive about Arraez trade. I see you are “bummed” to.

Signing a free agent pitcher with 2-3 years of control and having Arraez in our lineup made most sense to me. Always risk with pitchers & health!

I just don’t like that many contributors here feel the need to tear down Arraez capabilities to justify winning the Trade. If CC doesn’t sign he’s no question our biggest contributor on offense.

Arraez was up for Gold Glove at 1B! ……he played some 2B & DHed

I could name tons of good hitters with not great speed……….how about Morneau & Mauer. I believe Arraez would hit just as many HR & doubles as Joe if he batted 3rd & his job wasn’t just “to get on base”.

Arraez hit .366 with RISP in ‘22.

Enough said - he’s in Miami and wish him well!

[bloggymcbloggerson]

"After announcing discounted tickets, Luis Arraez was traded, and fans now have voices with dollars again"

what does this even mean

[JD-TWINS]

Winning is the only thing……unless you get caught like the Astros. Seriously though, I hate Arraez isn’t on our roster but if we win 90 games, even if López is a minor contributor, I’m good.

Luis could have pulled a hamstring or messed up his knee in May………Lopez might have elbow surgery in July……..it’s a team game and basically, all I care about is the Team Winning. Probably, a pretty obvious statement but the details discussed here are for fun & all that matters are W’s.

i.e.:

I live in Cincinnati & have for 30 years  - got here year after the ‘90 Series Win. ………25,000 at the park routinely in ‘91…………That was the start of the Bengals worst W-L decade  of any other NFL team. Games were blacked out locally often due to seldom sold out games. Mike Brown makes Cal Griffith look like a big spender!!

Now, nobody goes to the Red’s games unless there’s fireworks or some Bobblehead giveaway - 40% of the daily attendance are not really at the games. Sometimes less than 7,000 - 10,000 actual people in the park, fairly often. The Bengals are on their way to 2nd straight Conference champ game. Can’t get Bengals tickets with unlimited budget.

It’s all about Winning!

[Ricky Vaughn]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

I just don’t like that many contributors here feel the need to tear down Arraez capabilities to justify winning the Trade.

I don't care for it either. Many say he will never be worth more. What is the reasoning? His knee's or power. After spending the winter working out with Nelson Cruz his power numbers went up and he said near the end of the season that his knee's were pain free all season. He pulled a hamstring in the second half, his knee was'nt the problem. I think if he had a full healthy season 40 doubles and 12-15 homeruns are posible. I don't think his value is done going up. In my humble opinion winning a trade should not be the goal. If everyone gets what they traded for, the teams will be much more receptive to dealing with each other again.  All that said I do thik the trade was good and fair deal. I will miss seeing him play and hope he goes on to a long career.