3 Braves Opening Day starters who won’t be on the roster next season
By Mark Powell
Braves who won’t be on the roster next season: Orlando Arcia
Atlanta fans should have nothing against Orlando Arica. He’s handled himself with nothing but class during his time with the Braves, and just wants a team to take a chance on him. Early this season, he’ll get a chance to prove his worth.
Brian Snitker and Anthopoulos shocked Braves country when they sent Vaughn Grissom down to the minor leagues despite hyping him up the entire offseason as Dansby Swanson’s replacement. Now, it’s Arcia’s team to provide a stable, veteran presence to the shortstop position.
Ron Washington still sees a bright future for Grissom, and that’s more so the point here. Grissom will eventually take Arcia’s job, it’s just a matter of when.
“I’m looking at the process. The process is sustaining, and consistency. That’s what it is. And they’re in the process right now. And they’ve got a very, very, very bright future. It just didn’t happen this spring,” Washington said, per David O’Brien of The Athletic.
If not this season, then perhaps in the offseason. Arcia is a good asset to have coming off the bench. He has a club option going into next offseason, and while he’s cheap, it’d be unwise of Anthopoulos to keep Arcia around if Grissom is ready.