As Marlins and Twins begin series, a look at the bond between Luis Arraez and Pablo Lopez

Infielder Luis Arraez and pitcher Pablo Lopez will always be connected.

The two were the headliners of one of the bigger trades to happen this offseason, with the Miami Marlins acquiring Arraez from the Minnesota Twins for Lopez, infielder prospect Jose Salas and outfielder prospect Byron Chourio on Jan. 20

But their connection extends beyond a transaction.

Arraez and Lopez, both Venezuelans, quickly formed a bond about six weeks after the trade happened when they were teammates during the World Baseball Classic.

“We hit it off immediately,” Lopez said. “That was one of the relationships I was really looking forward to build because I knew we were going to have a ton of things to talk about.”

Added Arraez: “Pablo is the best. He’s an amazing person.”

Their first time playing against each other — and against their former teams — has already arrived, with the Twins in Miami for a three-game series at loanDepot park that began Monday. Arraez is leading off for Miami for a fifth consecutive game Monday to begin the series. Lopez is scheduled to pitch for Minnesota in the series finale Wednesday.

The friendship will remain.

But for about three hours a day over this three-day span, it will be on hold.

“He has his plan, and I have my plan,” Arraez said. “Everybody knows I want to hit the ball every time. He wants to strike me out.”

At its simplest, the trade allowed both teams to address key needs.

The Twins were seeking a high-end starting pitcher. The Marlins had starting pitching depth to deal from, and Lopez’s trade value was probably as high as it was ever going to be after a breakout 2022 season.

The Marlins spent the offseason prioritizing improving offense and in this instance needed a table setter at the top of the lineup. While the Twins valued Arraez’s skill set on offense — he is the reigning American League batting champion — Minnesota felt he didn’t have a true home defensively.

When the trade became official, Marlins general manager Kim Ng called the move “a very good baseball trade for both clubs.” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the trade “just made sense” considering the Marlins “were zeroing in on on Luis really from the get-go and we had always been zeroed in on Pablo.”

And early on, the trade has produced positive results for both teams.

Entering Monday’s series opener with Minnesota, Arraez has a .563 batting average (9 for 16) through four games with one double, two runs scored, one RBI and one walk with just one strikeout. He is just the second player in franchise history to reach base to lead off each of first four games of a season; Hanley Ramirez also did so to start the 2006 season. His nine hits through his first four games is tied for fourth in franchise history, behind only Emilio Bonifacio (11 in 2009), J.T. Realmuto (10 in 2017) and Jeff Conine (10 in 1993).

“He’s a baseball player,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “We acquired a baseball player. He plays second, can play first. I think if you told him he’s gonna play somewhere else, he’ll give you everything he’s got no matter where he’s at. He doesn’t take a pitch off offensively or defensively. He plays like it’s Game 7 of the World Series every time. When you have those types of players, it’s nice. As a manager or as a coach when you have to pull back and not push forward. He’s a guy that you have to pull back sometimes because he brings so much, which I love. It’s just fun to watch and getting to write his name in there every day is a nice thing to have.”

Arraez spent time during batting practice catching up with former teammates, including Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. While there are emotions facing a former team, Arraez said he still understands that his current goal remains the same.

“I miss those guys,” Arraez said, “but I’m here with Miami now and I have to go play. I don’t have to change anything. I just go there and play baseball.”

The sentiment is the same for Lopez, who debuted with the Marlins in 2018 and was a fixture in Miami’s rotation ever since.

He put together the best season of his career last year, when he made all 32 of his scheduled starts for the first time in his MLB career after shoulder injuries hampered him in 2018, 2019, 2021. He finished with a 3.75 ERA over 180 innings with 174 strikeouts against 53 walks, a .234 batting average against and a 1.17 walks and hits per inning pitched mark — the latter two marks both below his career averages (.242 average, 1.19 WHIP).

“This is the place that saw me grow as a player and a person,” Lopez said. “It’s the place where I saw my hair fall off, too.”

The Twins named Lopez their Opening Day starter for this season — a first for Lopez — and he responded by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in a win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

“It was so much fun,” Lopez said of his Opening Day start. “When I got traded, really being the Opening Day starter was the last thing on my mind. The main thing was getting to know the Minnesota Twins, getting to know how they operate and their pitching philosophy, and I wanted them to know who Pablo Lopez the pitcher and the person was. ... They gave me the opportunity.”

Like Arraez, Lopez made his way over to the opposing dugout and caught up with former teammates. The main reunion came with Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins’ ace who he formed a brotherhood with during their time as rotation-mates. The Marlins are planning to honor Alcantara for his Cy Young pregame Monday. Lopez intends to be on the field for the celebration.

“One last clap of support,” Lopez said.

But when Alcantara starts against the Twins on Tuesday?

“When he’s pitching,” Lopez said, “I’ll be cheering for the Twins.”