Orlando Arcia finds a new home

Ezequiel Tovar is Colorado’s shortstop right now, so Arcia is probably filling a similar void as he held in Atlanta as a reserve infielder. Second baseman Adael Amador was called up this season, but he’s struggled, so it’s possible Arcia fills in there too.

His career .241/.294/.373 slash line isn’t what’s kept him in the majors for a decade; it’s been his above-average defense, even if it’s faltered lately, too. By far his best stretch of play came with the Braves during the first half of the 2023 campaign when he earned All-Star honors.

Since then, Arcia has been practically unplayable, even losing his job to Nick Allen, whose bat is just as pathetic as Arcia’s for the most part. In 14 games this season, Arcia batted .194/.219/.226 in 32 trips to the plate.

Braves fans have a complicated relationship with Orlando Arcia. When he replaced Dansby Swanson in 2023, he was one of the best shortstops in the league during the first half of the 2023 campaign, as mentioned earlier. Braves Country couldn’t get enough of it.

He was playing for pennies on the dollar and outproducing Dansby Swanson, who had inked a $177 million free agent deal with the Cubs. Of course, we all knew it was unsustainable, but when it rained, it poured for Orlando Arcia.

The guy turned into a tomato can during the second half of the 2023 campaign, and it culminated in the playoffs when Arcia made a jab at Bryce Harper during the 2023 National League Division Series when the Phillies first baseman made a base running error to end Game 2.

Everyone in the Braves clubhouse tucked tail, and we all know the rest of the story. It was an embarrassing moment for the organization, and one that many in Braves Country will never forgive Arcia for.

Hopefully, Orlando Arcia puts that Braves drama behind him and can put something together for the Rockies.