May 28: The Rockies have just made it official, announcing their signing of Arcia. Infielder Aaron Schunk has been optioned as the corresponding move. The 40-man roster count goes from 38 to 39.
May 27: Arcia and the Rox are in agreement on a big league deal, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
May 26: The Rockies and free agent infielder Orlando Arcia are in the final stages of contract talks, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. Should the deal be completed, it will mark a quick turn-around in the open market for Arcia, who was released just yesterday by the Braves after he cleared waivers. Arcia is repped by World Sports Agency.
Ezequiel Tovar is locked in as Colorado’s everyday shortstop, so adding Arcia probably means the Rockies are either looking at the 30-year-old as a depth piece. Second baseman Adael Amador hasn’t hit much at all since being called up to the majors, so the Rockies might be considering sending him back down to Triple-A since Thairo Estrada is close to returning from the injured list. This leaves Arcia, Kyle Farmer, Tyler Freeman and Aaron Schunk on hand as the bench depth, barring another move.
Arcia has mostly played shortstop during his 10 Major League seasons, and his generally solid glovework has helped him carve out that long career despite a modest .241/.294/.373 slash line. His most consistent offensive run came with the Braves in 2022 and during the first half of the 2023 season, and Arcia was even named to the All-Star team for his strong performance at the plate in the opening months of the 2023 campaign.
Since then, however, Arcia’s bat has normalized back its usual levels, and he lost his starting shortstop job in Atlanta to Nick Allen. Arcia has appeared in only 14 games this season, and batted .194/.219/.226 in 32 trips to the plate. Since Arcia was no longer in the team’s plans, the Braves designated him for assignment and released him earlier this week.
Owed $2MM in 2025, Arcia is still owed around $1.376MM of that salary, plus his contract contains a $2MM club option for 2026 with a $1MM buyout. The Rockies only owe the prorated MLB minimum portion of what remains of his 2025 salary, with Atlanta booting the rest of the bill.
The price tag is small enough that the Rockies may have felt it was worth it to bring in a veteran player with some relatively recent success on his track record — perhaps as a trade chip for the deadline, or perhaps just as an upgrade over its other backup infield options. Since Colorado certainly looks like it will be a seller at the deadline, any number of roster spots could be opening up after July 31. If Arcia himself isn’t moved, he can cover innings for the Rockies in the event that perhaps Estrada, Farmer, or Freeman are moved, or if the Rox explore a bigger trade like moving Ryan McMahon.
Probably to boost amador’s confidence. Need someone worse to get his spirits up
Ouch. 😂😂😂
So they are trading for Vaughn Grissom too?
What do you mean by “worse”, fielding, or batting?
Yes
It’s truly shocking he didn’t want to play for a team that was in contention.
10 game winning streak incoming!
At least a 10 game streak would almost double their season win total…
They still haven’t won 10 games yet!
They have a chance to not win 10 games by June 1st!
It’s very unfortunate for my Pirates that I bet the Rockies will sweep them whenever they play and get 33 percent of their win total in one weekend.
Hey now, as a fellow fan of a tightwad team (Reds), I think they can at least win with Skenes out there. Good luck.
The first step towards winning this year’s World Series, sparking a dynasty that lasts a decade.
Lets work on a 3 game winning streak first.
What a move!
Good for Orlando. Now step 1 is to get his slop*ss on a treadmill. Tough to play shortstop looking like that. He can definitely still play if he wants to.
I appreciate the good times Orlando had with the braves and wish him nothing but the best with the Rockies!
To withhold from making jokes and actually analyze the move:
Arcia’s still riding on his 2023 AS appearance. However even in that season he was a 1.7 WAR, 99 OPS+ player. 78 OPS+ career. Coors Field will help but I don’t think this is a great move.
Maybe best case he plays well for a couple months and gets flipped at the deadline for a lotto ticket.
I just don’t see him getting enough playing time for that to happen. Unless the Rockies have some kind of deal in place for Kyle Farmer or Ryan McMahon right now, Arcia will likely just be stuck on the bench.
His batting may be no good, his glove is & was good, he was 4 OAA in 2024. He’s a solid defender glove first man, he also has power to hit home runs, he just doesn’t know when to shorten up and punch for a base hit, that was his whole problem at the Braves, his approach at the plate is poor.
What for? Ezequiel Tovar has been on fire since he returned from the IL and Thairo Estrada is just a couple days away from returning himself. Farmer and Schunk and have been capable bench options and Amador has been good defensively at least. Arcia just doesn’t seem to be a good fit.
You know a lot more about the Rockies than I do.
Watched every game the past three years except for the games against the Reds thanks to blackouts. It’s not always fun, but neither was world history class and I enjoyed that too.
World History might be the only elective I ever had any use for. Technically, it was completely useless, but it was fun.
Amador has not been good defensively. Not saying Arcia is an improvement, but amador is not playing to his ability at either end. Hes better than what he’s doing.
And that’s at 2b, he should be a perfect pairing with Tovar defensively.
Maybe Amador goes to AAA to try to figure it out.
@pt57 100%. He hasn’t really played in AAA. Promoted too soon imo. He seems overwhelmed at the big league level. Rockies ruining development as always.
He has been good defensively. Spectacular at times. That double play he turned against the Yankees was phenomenal. He has made his share of boneheaded plays as well, but for the most part, he has been good and you can see the potential for future greatness. If only you could say the same about his bat which I am not sure will ever play in the majors.
Amador has never been scouted to be a plus defender. Has horrible defensive grades and a very weak arm.
He’s not a major league starter.
hiflew- I agree with you. I don’t post on here very often, but I am a Rockies fan since day 1 in 1993. Very disappointed over the last several years in their operations from the Monforts to the FO. I live in the 4 Corners area, but would attend 3-4 series a year making the 450 mile trek. Have not attended a game in 4 years other than Spring training due to the lack of commitment from the Monforts. Don’t know if you saw the commentary from Kyle Clark, but it’s worth watching.
At this stage in his career, Arcia is better off being used as a utility infielder rather than as a starting shortstop
Maybe the change of scenery will help him a bit. Little risk for the Rockies who have no real plan to get better.
How about promoting Ryan Ritter? No one hotter in the minors the last few weeks. He’s been getting some time at 2B. Arcia is no answer long term or short term.
Should have signed with Tampa. He could have commuted from Orlando.
Atta boy Arcia Atta boy
As of 5/26/25
Orlando Arcia 1 World Series Ring
Bryce Harper 0 World Series Championships
That’s all folks.
And he’s really good at defense, doesn’t hit a whole lot, it was a funny moment. I like to laugh. Not everyone does I get it
Man, that makes a lot of HOF players worse than the dazzling Arcia.
Ernie Banks and Robin Yount would like a word. Ernie is distinguished as the best shortstop to never log a single postseason at bat has 2 MVP awards Arcia will never dream of winning
Ah, the missing piece they’ve needed.
He just missed Bryce Harper by a few games!
Phillies were just there 5/20 – 5/22!
Atta Boy Arcia!
As of 5/26/25
Orlando Arcia 1 World Series Ring
Bryce Harper 0 World Series Championships
That’s all folks.
Was Fred Mcgriff held out of the hall of fame for so long due to his lacking defensive metrics? Carlos Delgado and him had very similar oWAR and dWAR metrics according to baseball reference. Delgados career wasn’t as long
@FMcHR,
Hopefully, this will prompt you to post it a third time.
Bart HJ
Striiiiikkke Threeeeee you’re out!
Technically true but Arcia’s ring was really a participation trophy. He had a total of 5 PAs and 0 hits in the 2021 postseason.
Walk Off IBB
A fact is a fact.
@FMcHR,
I hope last evening’s HBP helps you in dealing with your HDS.🙃
Rox should sign Oswaldo,too.
Sounds like Schmidt. Sign someone for whom they have absolutely no need. Amador has shown flashes of pop and fielding brilliance with boneheaded mistakes. He can benefit with time in ABQ. He’s 22 yo.
I wish these guys had a clue.
Dude went to the only team worse than the Braves.
Lou, as always you are talking out of Lou Sassoll.
Insert Ryan Reynolds ‘But Why?’ GIF
Personally, I think Ryan Ritter is going to be the 2B of the future. I Amador is going to be a Jeff Baker type player, just never reaching his true potential. Ryan Ritter is AAA, and he’s playing incredibly well down there. +speed,+glove, +power.
The final stages of contract talks? The Braves are on the hook for his remaining contract. The Rockies will be paying league minimum. What are they negotiating?
The number of years in the extension. 🙂
It’s like the Arenado deal. The Rockies would like to pay a big chunk of the remaining contract.
Maybe Arcia wants an opt out if he gets an offer from any other team.
Atta Boy Arcia. Go to the worst team bc its the only team that wants you
Lucky him!
What are the negotiating? Braves pay him and the Rockies get him for a veterans minimum
Who knows. Arcia is so childish, they could be negotiating his bedtime.
He could apply to be Bryce Harper’s bat boy if this doesn’t work out.
Why?!
The Rockies had a .175 win percentage (7/33) when they fired Black.
They have a .133 win percentage (2/13) since then.
That worked out well.
They are on pace for 23 wins this season at the pace they have set since Black’s firing. 26 wins if their .1636 win percentage for the season so far holds. Either way they blow away the record for losses in a season. .
I seldom get to say this, but I like this move for the Rox.
Arcia a possible “trade chip”? You cannot be serious.
The Rockies gotta Rockie.
Single first AB
Can an extension be far behind?
Arcia? Dude is elephant cheeks, he’s not doing jack tuna to this Rockies slob fest of horrible players .
We didn’t see enough of Aaron Schunk to make a judgement, but what we saw was impressive enough that it makes sense to get him more playing time in ALBQ. Beck and Goodman are keepers. Toglia strikes out 50%. Amador makes rookie mistakes. They need more down at AAA. Will we see Ritter this summer? Probably not. It seems the big club will stop promoting from within and getting some bottom of the barrel veterans. Or, they’re lining up a trade for Mac. Who knows?
Well. This hasn’t worked out at all. 1 homer. 1 rbi. 170 average. Great signing. Atta boy Arcia