The Atlanta Braves have been busy this offseason, but their entire focus to this point has been on cost-cutting moves. Jorge Soler was traded to the Angels to save over $32 million in salary over the next two seasons. Soon after, the Braves re-worked the contracts of Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez before making the surprising decision to decline Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million option, who quickly joined Soler in Los Angeles.
However, the primary reason the Braves are cutting costs is so they can address their most pressing needs; one of those at the top of the list is shortstop. There’s a chance Atlanta rolls with Orlando Arcia as their starter for a third season, but there’s no question finding a long-term answer at the position is preferred, and the Braves are reportedly interested in the top name on the market, Willy Adames, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
The Brewers shortstop is coming off a season in which he blasted a career-high 32 home runs and has at least 25 homers in every season since 2021. He’s the ideal target to replace Orlando Arcia, who was recently deemed the most likely Braves player to be traded by Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report.Â
Atlanta Braves: Orlando Arcia, SS
Arcia was an All-Star for the Braves in 2023, hitting 17 home runs with 65 RBI and stepping up after Dansby Swanson departed in free agency. He homered 17 times again in 2024, but he did so with just a .625 OPS. The Braves may need more consistent offensive production from the position.
If Alex Anthopoulos finds an upgrade at shortstop via free agency or trade, Arcia—who is due just $2 million in 2025 and has a $2 million club option for 2026—could become a trade target. He would fit with some lesser teams looking for a shortstop, or a contender that believes he could be a jack-of-all-trades fifth infielder.
I am not in agreement with any of this. For starters, signing Willy Adames in free agency feels like a long shot. Of course, the Braves have interest, but they’ve never spent more than $65 million on any single free agent, and Adames is going to cost well over double that, with several clubs that have much deeper pockets than the Braves interested, like the Dodgers and Mets.
Outside of Adames, Ha-Seong Kim is really the only other starting-caliber starting shortstop available in free agency. He could be an option, but he won’t be ready for the start of the season after suffering a significant season-ending injury. Even if the Braves did sign Kim, keeping Orlando Arcia around until he’s healthy would be paramount.
Which is just the thing. Orlando Arcia may be chopped liver compared to most of the starting shortstops around the league, but that’s because he’s not really a starting shortstop. He’s a high-quality backup utility infielder, and that’s what he’s getting paid, making $2 million in 2025 with a $2 million option for 2026. Even if the Braves do acquire a starting shortstop this offseason, keeping Orlando Arcia around in a bench role makes the most sense.
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Photo: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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