Braves sign shortstop to contract extension, and it’s not Vaughn Grissom

The Atlanta Braves have signed shortstop Orlando Arcia to a contract extension, keeping him in Atlanta for another three seasons.

Atlanta shocked most of baseball by sending Vaughn Grissom — the presumed replacement for Dansby Swanson — down to the minors to start the season. Grissom hit well during spring training, but evidently didn’t show enough to receive the starting nod.

Instead, that went to stable veteran Orlando Arcia, who was grateful for the opportunity. Arcia was seen by many as the backup plan, or a potential stopgap if Grissom wasn’t ready for the majors.

Not only will Arcia start the season in Atlanta as the Opening Day shortstop, but he’ll remain in the ATL for the next few years as well thanks to Alex Anthopoulos.

Braves: What Orlando Arcia signing means for Vaughn Grissom

While this does give the Braves a solid Plan B should Grissom not work out in the major leagues, he is still the primary option at shortstop long-term. Arcia isn’t receiving starting shortstop money, as noted in Robert Murray’s tweet above. If anything, he’s a moderately-priced backup who wanted some stability in his life.

Anthopoulos provided that.

Murray discussed Atlanta’s options at shortstop just a few days ago, suggesting they’d roll with Arcia rather than forcing Grissom into the starting spot before he’s ready:

"“The most likely option, at least for now, is that they roll with Arcia until Grissom is ready. The organization remains very high on Grissom despite the demotion. He’s only 22 and hit .291/.353/.440 with five home runs in 141 plate appearances last season. The luxury of having the veteran Arcia is that the Braves didn’t need to rush Grissom into a prominent role on the major-league roster and can allow him to develop in a low-pressure environment in Triple-A at the start of the season.”"

As talented as Grissom may be, he doesn’t have a lot of experience at shortstop in the major leagues, or elsewhere frankly. Arcia does. Braves coach Ron Washington worked with Grissom on his defensive positioning and consistency during the offseason. He saw promise, even comparing the 21-year-old to Miguel Tejada. However, when Grissom was sent down, he preached patience.

Braves fans should honor that code. Arcia’s contract comes in the form of a deep breath.