2023-1: Orlando, Fried, & d’Arnaud
The Braves started their campaign for a sixth consecutive division title on the right foot, Thursday in Washington.
After what was an interesting first few innings & a good run of scoreless innings from the bullpen, the Bravos put it away for good in the top of the 9th inning. Entering the final frame with a two-run lead over the home team, Atlanta plated three runs to extend the lead beyond a save opportunity for AJ Minter.
Braves newcomer Lucas Luetge earned the win during his one inning of work. Chavez, Lee, & McHugh each ended the day with a hold.
Orlando Arcia
The first headline of the season dropped before 8 o’clock eastern on Opening Day, when MLB Insider Robert Murray tweeted that a three-year deal had been agreed upon between Arcia & the Atlanta Braves:
“Shortstop Orlando Arcia and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $7.3 million contract that includes a club option for 2026, according to sources familiar with the deal. Arcia gets $2.3 million in 2023, $2 million in 2024 and $2 million in 2025.”
Broad Strokes: this is a great-to-tremendous value. Arcia has long-term starting shortstop experience from his time in Milwaukee.
He’s not a defender that’s going to prevent a baker’s dozen worth of runs over the course of 162, but he’s also not going to be the reason you surrender double-digit runs over the course of a season. And as we saw last season, he has pop; enough power to be a threat in the bottom third of the order.
It’s important to realize that Arcia didn’t sign this deal with the role of “Franchise Shortstop” written somewhere in the fine print. He was basically signed as the football equivalent “Bridge QB”. He’s going to be paid $2.3 million this year to be THE shortstop until Vaughn or Braden show up for good, to then step into his usual role of bench infield utility man. Then the Braves get one of the more solid bench players in baseball for $2 million/year for the next two years before Atlanta decides in 2026 whether or not he’s worth keeping around.