An open letter in defense of former Miami Marlins' star Luis Arraez

It seems as though former Miami Marlins star Luis Arraez could be on the move once again. The back-to-back-to-back Batting Title champ has established himself as the premier contact hitter in baseball. Despite that, he is also on a strange career arch that no one could have predicted.

The Background

No one batted an eye when the utility infielder was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Marlins for ace Pablo Lopez. The move, which exchanged two All-Star level players, made sense for both franchises.

While Arraez continued his stellar batting average production, his stock surprisingly began to drop. The three-time All-Star drew criticism for his dimensional game. Despite holding a career .323 average, Arraez has virtually nonexistent power (with only 28 home runs across six MLB seasons) and speed (with only 20 career stolen bases).

Additionally, Arraez's defensive metrics are also below-average. Despite having significant experience at both first and second base, he is considered a minus defender at both spots.

The two-time Silver Slugger was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres for an unproven prospect named Dillon Head. He has continued to hit at his normal league-leading level. And, once again, he finds himself on the trade block.

The Unique Profile

All of this begs the key question: How much is a high-contact player with no other skills worth in modern MLB? The answer, it seems, comes with highly mixed opinions.

Allow me to form a defense of the former Miami Marlin. His profile is unique. Even odd. However, his all-time contact abilities should not be dismissed due to his lack of power and speed.

At the end of the day, baseball still has the same goals. Get on base. Advance runners. And get runs home. Arraez is the league's best at the first. And is proficient at the others.

His value may be club-dependent. For instance, his skills were not maximized on an average Marlins lineup during his time in Miami. However, consider his value as a leadoff or #2 hitter for a club like the Los Angeles Dodgers. His high average would allow him to feast as a baserunner at the top of a star-studded lineup.

One would think his current role on the Padres would yield similar fruits. However, San Diego's need to cut salaries and (perhaps) recoup a completely depleted farm system, has limited his overall upside.

The Concerns and Solutions

As for the defensive concerns, a move to designated hitter could make a tangible difference. While some clubs are stacked at the DH spot, others are noticeably thin.

Need an example? What do Zach DeLoach, Mitch Haniger, Eguy Rosario, Will Wagner, and Trevor Larnach have in common? They are projected as the starting DH for a major league club. Arraez could be a major upgrade to many DH situations. And, his ability to spell players as a backup defender for multiple positions also still has value.

The Arraez slander has gone too far. I understand that modern-day baseball clubs place significant value on the long ball. However, there simply has to be a place for a player whose .323 average would rank inside the top 50 all-time.

Don't allow the narrative to fool you. Luis Arraez's contact skills make him an extremely valuable baseball player who has a place in the modern game.