The Miami Marlins are adding some badly needed batting to their clubhouse. The team just announced they acquired All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.
Arraez comes to Miami after his best individual season in his pro career. He hit .316 with career-high eight homers and 49 RBIs en route to winning the 2022 American League batting champion title and making his first All-Star.
In order to get Arraez, the Marlins had to pay somewhat of a steep price. They gave up talented pitcher Pablo Lopez, who went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 2022, alongside two highly-regarded prospects in shortstop Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chouri.
After the move was made official, the Marlins general manager Kim Ng said the team’s primary goal was to add offense this offseason and that Arraez checks that box.
“We’ve talked about it quite often, wanting to add offense this offseason,” Ng said about the move. “We’re willing to trade some of our pitching to do it. What we get in Luis Arraez is a left-handed, very good hitter.”
For the Twins, trading Arraez was a way to boost their rotation. Lopez is expected to immediately become one of their top pitchers while they hope that at least one of Salas and Chouri will pan out.
