American League Batting Champion Luis Arraez Headed to Miami
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The Minnesota Twins have traded the current American League (AL) batting champion Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins this past Friday. The 25-year-old was traded in return for starting pitcher Pablo Lopez and two prospects.
The cost to obtain Arraez was not cheap, as they will lose their accomplished right-handed strike-out starter Lopez, as well as promising shortstop prospect Jose Salas and outfielder prospect Byron Chourio. Lopez, 26, threw a career-high 180 innings last season over 32 starts and registered a 3.75 earned run average (ERA), with low walk and strikeout rates.
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In addition to the Marlins recent signing of Jean Segura, the acquisition of Arraez will bring a much-needed bat improvement to the lineup in the 2023 season. Other than the Marlins’ all-star right-hander Sandy Alcantara obtaining the National League Cy Young Award, much of the Marlins’ 2022 season was full of disappointment, as all-star Jazz Chisholm faced injuries, as well as underperformances by free agent signings.
In Arraez’s MLB career, he is a .314 hitter with exceptional bat-to-ball skills. This season, he obtained a .316 batting average, scored 88 runs, batted in 49 runs, and had more walks than strikeouts. He was a 2022 All Star and finished 13th in the AL MVP race.
Chisholm, who has played middle infield his entire career, is said to be moving from second base to center field to make room for Arraez to be the Marlin’s full-time second baseman.
