After being designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, Orlando Arcia signed with the Colorado Rockies on Memorial Day. Daniel Alvarez of ElExtrabase was the first to report the news. Per Alvarez, Arcia can join the club on their current road trip in Chicago once the deal is finalized.
The Colorado Rockies and former All-Star SS Orlando Arcia are finalizing a free agent contract, sources tell @ElExtrabase.
Arcia, 30, was released by the Atlanta Braves after being DFA’d.
Once finalized, Arcia can join the team for their road series in Chicago.
— Daniel Álvarez-Montes (@DanielAlvarezEE) May 27, 2025
Report: Orlando Arcia Signs with Rockies After Being Released by Braves
Arcia, 30, is in the 10th season of his career. He played his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. On April 6, 2021, Arcia was traded to the Braves for pitchers Patrick Weigel and Chad Sobotka. He went on to spend the next five seasons in Atlanta. In 2023, he earned his first All-Star appearance. Arcia hit .264/.321/.420 with 17 home runs and 65 RBI (both career highs) during the 2023 season. He has been limited to just 14 games this season due to a hand injury.
In his limited action, Arcia has struggled. He is hitting just .194/.219/.226 with no home runs and one RBI. The recent return of Ronald Acuña Jr. marked the official end of Arcia’s tenure in Atlanta.
Orlando Arcia shared the following on his Instagram, thanking the club and #Braves fans for his experience in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/Teru1YP35R
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) May 26, 2025
How Will the Rockies Use Arcia?
The signing comes at an interesting time for Colorado. After a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Memorial Day, they dropped to a league-worst 9-45. They are mired in a rebuild and are at the bottom of the league on offense and defense. Arcia will assuredly not be the regular shortstop. That spot is currently occupied by star Ezequiel Tovar, who has been scorching hot since coming off the IL on May 15. While the large majority of Arcia’s career has been at shortstop, he played 5o games at second base in the 2022 season. He has also played 35 games since 2021 in the outfield.
The Rockies’ plan in the offseason was to start the newly signed Thairo Estrada at second base. But in spring training he suffered a fractured right wrist and has been sidelined all season. Per Rotowire, Estrada began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on May 22 and is estimated to make his Rockies debut around June 2.
Adael Amador Getting Sent Down?
22-year-old second baseman Adael Amador has served as the Rockies’ regular second baseman for much of the season. He has struggled mightily at the plate, hitting .151/.240/.233 with 25 strikeouts to just nine walks. Amador has also struggled defensively. Per BaseballReference, he has three errors and is worth -5 defensive runs saved above average, resulting in a fielding percentage of just .973 on the league-worst Rockies’ defense.
By comparison, Arcia has a 1.000 fielding percentage this season with no errors. It would not be surprising if the Rockies sent the struggling Amador down to Triple-A and started Arcia at second base. Utility infielders Kyle Farmer and Tyler Freeman have also seen time at second. It will be interesting to monitor what the Rockies will do at the position when Estrada returns. But until that time comes, expect to see Arcia suiting up soon in purple pinstripes at the keystone position.
Photo Credit: © Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
