Gabriel Arias / MLB Network Capture
The name of Gabriel Arias jumps into the American media these days, as a possible and attractive piece of change in case the Cleveland Guardians wish to acquire an already established figure in the MLB market.
Arias is one of the best prospects in baseball, right now. He was ranked by Baseball Prospectus at No. 94 among the Big Show’s most notable emerging talents and again appeared at No. 87 in 2021.
He’s a hitting shortstop. And that can be worth gold in the majors. But perhaps the path is closed to the majors at this time.
The also Venezuelan Andrés Giménez and the Dominican Amed Rosario form the key of double plays of the present in Cleveland. And in theory they are also the pair of the future. They already shared upstairs during parts of this championship. They are young, capable and well regarded by management, since they were acquired in a trade with the New York Mets in January.
Giménez has the potential to become a wizard with the glove. Rosario has a greater offensive projection.
A report published this Sunday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper addressed the Arias case. Journalist Joe Noga assures that the native of La Victoria could one day be the shortstop for the Guardians, yes, but he could also be that player who allows him to acquire an attractive player from another club.
Paul Hoynes, a columnist for the same newspaper, did not rule out that this happens. He said so on his Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast.
But who is Arias, the guy who is being talked about so much in “The Forest City”, even though he still hasn’t played a game in MLB?
“He’s a high-profile prospect,” Hoynes warned.
Arias reached the then-called Indians in the trade that sent ace Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres.
He hit .302 / .339 / .470 in Advanced Class A with 17 home runs. And from there he went to Triple A, this year, to leave averages of .284 / .348 / .454, with 13 more home runs.
“Defensively, he’s very good,” Hoynes warned. “But he has some holes in the swing that needs to be worked on.”
MLB Pipeline, the MLB page, which specializes in prospects, ranks him as the fourth best in his entire squad.
“It’s full of all kinds of tools,” says the report on the official Major League Baseball website. “It has more raw power than many shortstops. You can pull the ball. But how much he can polish himself as a hitter will depend on whether he can become a 25-30 home run slugger in the majors. “
Manager Terry Francona will have you back at Spring Training. With 22 years of age and a good harvest on the eve of the Big Show, it is expected that in 2022 he will complete his graduation as a bigleaguer.
Already in the past spring training sessions he hit over .600 in exhibition games. But it required mashing in the minor leagues.
The Guardians have good talent on farms. Not only Giménez and Rosario are possible obstacles for the Venezuelan.
Arias is, therefore, “the most attractive piece to get a good change,” said Noga.
Luisángel Acuña, the younger brother of star Ronald Acuña Jr., has a closed road in Texas. But in his case it was because the Rangers signed two stars, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, who defend the positions he can fill.
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Arias’s case is different. But the destination can be the same: a transaction to another currency.
Cleveland, however, could wait for the Aragüeño. As the MLB Trade Rumors site points out, it is an organization that prefers to keep its most promising young people. Although the lack of gardeners with a view to 2022 could make them change their plans in this case and use him as bait.
Few fans have heard of Arias. But he is a strong candidate for a bright future. It remains to be seen in which city it will occur.
