Luis Arraez could be traded this offseason, but only in the right deal, according to sources familiar with the team’s thinking.
Unlike most recent winters, the Twins already feel prepared for next season as it pertains to their starting rotation. But with three veteran starters headed for free agency next offseason, the team’s confidence only extends through October.
Unless they’re signed long-term, Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle could be gone by 2024.
The club’s future rotation instability currently leaves members of the Twins front office in an unenviable position where they have discussed the possibility of trading the 2022 American League batting champion. With few, if any, untouchables on the 40-man roster, some in the organization believe the Twins would deal Arraez if it helped bring back a top-tier starting pitcher.
The Twins would prefer not to trade Arraez, one of the toughest at-bats in baseball. But after seeing the Texas Rangers pay Jacob deGrom $185 million over five years, the soaring cost of top-tier pitching has the Twins re-thinking who may or may not be available in a trade.
