This weekend, Twins fans get their first chance to welcome back an old friend. Luis Arraez, the beloved batting champ traded before the 2023 season, will step into the batter’s box at Target Field for the first time since the deal that sent him to Miami for Pablo López. It feels like the right moment to ask if the Twins should consider bringing Arraez back this offseason.

Arraez made his debut with the Twins in 2019 and quickly became one of the most popular players on the roster. With his trademark wiggle in the box, his smile, and his uncanny ability to put together professional at-bats, he reminded fans of Rod Carew. In four seasons with Minnesota, Arraez hit .314 with a 119 OPS+, proving himself one of baseball’s most consistent contact hitters. His 2022 batting title capped off his Twins tenure before the blockbuster trade that sent him to Miami.

The move was controversial at the time, but it is hard to call it anything other than a success for Minnesota. López has become an ace and a clubhouse leader. Arraez, meanwhile, was traded again at the 2024 deadline, this time from Miami to San Diego. His production slipped, and in 2025, he is hitting .283 with a below-average OPS+ of 94. That is the risk for a player whose value rests almost entirely on batting average. When the hits stop falling, there is not much else to buoy the profile.

Which begs the question: could the Twins actually be the team to give him another chance?

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First base has been a revolving door this year. Ty France was given the job to start the season, but his struggles led to a midseason exit. Kody Clemens has held down the spot since then, but his production has cooled, and he looks more like a bench piece than an everyday starter. There’s no heir-apparent prospect, and Edouard Julien does not project as a long-term answer at first base. That leaves the Twins looking externally to solve the problem, and free agency seems like the most logical path.

Arraez will hit free agency this winter after earning $14 million in his final arbitration season with San Diego. He will not command a massive contract, especially coming off a down year, and that is exactly the type of market the Twins usually shop in. Given the team’s ownership situation and expected payroll constraints, a cost-effective reunion with a fan favorite could make a lot of sense.

He is still only 28 years old, with time to rebound closer to his batting title form. At worst, he provides a reliable floor, a contact-first bat who can give professional plate appearances and lengthen the lineup. At best, he finds his groove again and stabilizes the top of the order.

And there is also the human element. If the front office does what many expect and trades away stars like López or Joe Ryan, the 2026 roster could be a tough sell. Bringing Arraez back would not just patch a hole on the field. It would inject life, energy, and joy into a clubhouse and fanbase that desperately need it.

Of course, there are reasons for hesitation. Arraez is a one-dimensional player with declining skills. He does not hit for power, does not run well, and offers little defensive versatility.

If his average continues to slip, his value collapses quickly. The Twins also need to decide whether investing even modest dollars at first base is wise when other needs, particularly bullpen and shortstop depth, may be more pressing.

Luis Arraez may not be the perfect solution, but the fit feels right. He would give the Twins a cost-conscious option, a steady presence in the lineup, and a much-needed morale boost for the fanbase. It might not be a long-term fix, but it could be the kind of reunion that makes sense for both sides.