Infielder Orlando Arcia appeared to be one of the top candidates to win the Twins' backup starting shortstop job out of spring training. With nine years of MLB experience and the ability to play all four infield positions, he seemed like the perfect fit for the role. However, Tristan Gray ended up winning the backup shortstop job, while Arcia began the season at Triple-A St. Paul.
Arcia eventually earned a big-league opportunity with the Twins. On May 19, Minnesota selected Arcia's contract from the Saints as a corresponding move to optioning Royce Lewis to Triple-A. Arcia slashed .271/.300/.354 in 50 plate appearances across 19 games with the Twins before being designated for assignment on June 15.
After clearing waivers, Arcia accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A. Roughly a month later, he was released. Arcia slashed a strong .282/.336/.498 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI across 63 games with the Saints.
After appearing in three games in the Mexican league, Arcia signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds this past Tuesday. Cincinnati assigned the veteran infielder to Triple-A Louisville. He has gone 0-for-5 across two games with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate so far.
Why did the Reds sign former Twins INF Orlando Arcia?
Barring a miracle, the Reds won't play in the postseason this year. They are 6 1/2 games out of the final National League Wild Card spot and 20 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central. Still, signing Arica for the final few weeks of the season makes sense for the club, as shortstop Elly De La Cruz is dealing with a quad tweak. De La Cruz has regularly been in the Reds' lineup lately, serving as the designated hitter, but the team could shut him down if they believe there's any risk of a more serious injury.
Arcia, a former All-Star and World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves, could be reaching a point where he considers playing overseas. At 32 years old, he has proven he can still succeed professionally but struggles to find success at the highest level. The infielder could make much more money playing in Korea or Japan than playing in the minors for an MLB organization.
Arcia began his MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2016. The Brewers traded Arcia to the Braves during the 2021 season. He served in a backup role for Atlanta in 2021 and 2022 before taking over the starting shortstop role in 2023 following Dansby Swanson's departure. He represented the Braves in the 2023 All-Star Game. The Braves cut Arcia loose during the 2025 season. He finished the season with the Colorado Rockies before signing with the Twins ahead of spring training.
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