What should the Atlanta Braves do at shortstop?
The Atlanta Braves have a long-term player at just about every position except for one, left field. But some fans believe Atlanta should upgrade at shortstop, too.
Dansby Swanson held that role for the Braves for six whole seasons before joining the Chicago Cubs via free agency last offseason. Atlanta was expected to fill Swanson's place with Vaughn Grissom, but he was not ready for an everyday role. The team turned to Orlando Arcia, who they acquired via trade in 2021.
Arcia did a solid job in 2023. He slashed .247/.300/.379 and hit 17 home runs and accounted for 65 RBI. Additionally, he put up an OPS of .679.
Arcia was good in the field as well, recording a fielding percentage of .977 while only making 12 errors.
But there's some bad feelings lingering in the fan base about Arcia, especially after the "distraction" in the postseason that was his clubhouse comments mocking Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper after game two of the NLDS.
Despite having a somewhat successful season, many people do not believe Arcia is the best long-term option for the Braves.
Who are some potential replacements, and are they really a better option than Arcia?
It is worth noting that this year's batch of shortstops hitting the market is small compared to the last two years - since 2021, eight shortstops have signed a nine-figure deal. It is unlikely that anyone in this class will approach that range.
Some of the "top" names available are Amed Rosario and Gio Urshela. Rosario slashed .272/.308/.400 and posted a .991 fielding percentage this season. Urshela slashed .299/.329/.423 with a .966 fielding percentage in a season in which he played 60 games due to a broken pelvis. It's possible the Chicago White Sox could decline their club option on Tim Anderson, handing the job over to top prospect Colson Montgomery, but Anderson batted only .245/.286/.296 with one homer in 123 games this season.
The moral of the story is there is no one out there who would likely be an instant improvement. The best thing the Braves could do at shortstop right now is allow Arcia the time he needs to improve and build the consistency, just like they allowed Swanson to do.
And at a price of $6M combined for the next three seasons, (versus the $163M Swanson), Atlanta can afford to be patient.
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