Luis Arraez Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Twins trade AL batting champion Luis Arraez to Marlins

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 1/20/23

The Minnesota Twins made a significant move involving All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez.

The Twins traded Arraez to the Miami Marlins, according to multiple reports. The Twins received starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and prospects, including highly rated infield prospect Jose Salas.

Infielder Jose Salas and one other prospect are heading to Minnesota along with Pablo López, source tells @TheAthletic. Salas, 19, is the Marlins’ No. 5 prospect, per @MLBPipeline. First on his inclusion: @CraigMish

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 20, 2023

Arraez is the reigning AL batting champion and renowned for his bat-to-ball skills. He struck out just 43 times in 603 plate appearances while hitting .316 in 2022. He was slightly more expendable for the Twins after they brought back Carlos Correa as a free agent.

They get a solid rotation upgrade in Lopez, who has put up good numbers for the Marlins over the past few seasons. He went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA for Miami last season, and the Twins have him under team control for two more seasons before he becomes a free agent.

The Twins are eager to contend now that Correa has returned to remain the centerpiece of the organization. Parting ways with Arraez is not easy, but they got a solid starter out of it and should be a more well-rounded team as a result.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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