The Twins have signed infielder Orlando Arcia to a minors contract, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports. The deal presumably includes an invitation for Arcia to attend Minnesota’s Major League spring camp.
Arcia is now a veteran of 10 Major League seasons, after amassing 214 plate appearances over 76 games with the Braves and Rockies in 2025. The majority (62 games) of that work came in Colorado, after Atlanta released Arcia in May and the Rockies quickly moved in to bring Arcia aboard on a big league contract. While Arcia has never been known for his bat, he hit only .202/.238/.291 over those 214 PA. His 33 wRC+ was both a career low and the second-lowest of any player who took at least 200 trips to the plate in 2025.
Once an excellent defensive shortstop back in his time with the Brewers, Arcia’s glovework has declined to just passable levels, and he played at all four infield positions in Colorado (including his first bit of MLB work at first base). Becoming a full-fledged utilityman is probably Arcia’s best ticket to sticking in the majors as a versatile backup off the Twins’ bench.
For the shortstop job in particular, Arcia provides some cover if presumptive starter Brooks Lee struggles, but Minnesota is naturally going to give a former top prospect like Lee plenty of rope. If Arcia doesn’t break camp with the Twins and sticks around in the minors, he’ll be far and away the most veteran member of a farm system that is lacking in big league experience.
First. heh.
Anyways, markets moving now!
Now we’ve had both Arcia brothers Orlando and Oswaldo. Not a bad depth signing he has definitely been good before there’s no harm in giving him a shot.
Arcia has a good chance of making the Twins out of training camp as a utility Infielder
No he does not lol
He’s break in case of emergency AAA filler. No D, no stick, no speed. If he’s lucky he gets two more years of service time for his retirement
I agree—I’m guessing the Twins are hoping Arcia is the new Willi Castro
Isn’t WAR a crazy stat? As the article mentioned, Arcia has played in 10 major league seasons, and across those 10 years, he has added just under 4 actual wins to his various teams’ records (relative to a replacement player, of course). Just crazy to think that’s his contribution to the league.
Wishing Lando the best of luck in MN from his “home” here in Milwaukee!
That’s not really how to use WAR. It’s a relative stat, and should be used to compare players, especially between positions, which is hard. It doesn’t really mean his teams would have won 4 fewer games if he hadn’t existed.
I know what it means. Obviously there’s no such thing as 0.1 wins, but that is what the stat is measuring.
Atta boy Arcia.
Wish they would bring back Willie.
The venerable Orlando Arcia signed a minor league deal with the Twins. I guess it’s not that hard to believe that Arcia could only filch a minor league pact. He was actually an all star with the Braves in 2023 when he reached career bests in runs (66), HR (17), RBI (65), and OPS (.741). He looked like a better prospect in his first full season with the Brewers in back in 2017 as a 22 y/o achieving career highs in BA (.277), WAR (2.2), and SB (14). But Arcia’s career really never got out of first gear. Maybe the Twins know something that we don’t. Not a high bar, at least in my case!!
By the by, Slightly optimistic twins fan, didn’t Oswaldo Arcia play for 4 teams in the same season? I believe he retired with a (-1.7) WAR. Oswaldo will never make you Twins’ fans forget Kent Hrbek. Or Justin Morneau. Or even Don Mincher!!
Yep he did in 2016 his last year he made the majors. He’s 34 and playing in Mexico now where he has put up a .925 ops over three seasons.
1972 World Series champion, Don Mincher.
perfect counter to the Jays signing Okamoto!
10 year veteran? Seems like yesterday he was a baby-faced kid with braces on his teeth.
all star to half a star
Orlando the hot dog?
Good signing. This is a minor league deal, and this is good depth.
I remember seeing him as a prospect in Marysville and thinking he’d be a stud.
He’s carved out a nice decade long career but is another reminder I’m not a real scout.
Immediately is number 2 on the SS depth chart. Good situation for him, let’s see if he can capitalize.
Another absolutely incredible move made by the Twins. Take that as you will.
Fun Fact: Arcia has more rings than Bryce Harper.
Arcia is a solid backup, though at the end of his tenure in Atlanta he had slowed noticeably, his SS defense is no longer top-tier.
Great clubhouse presence based on last year in Colorado. Meh on offense, replacement level across the infield.