The Atlanta Braves were taking a big risk by letting All Star Shortstop Dansby Swanson walk away in free agency, and while it may not have seemed like the best option at the time, the Braves and GM Alex Anthopoulos signed Orlando Arcia to a 3-year deal worth just $7.3 Million only to see Arcia become an All Star himself and possible the best value in all of baseball.
Dansby Swanson ended up signing a 7-year deal for $177 Million with the Chicago Cubs and hit .244 with 22 home runs in 2023. Orlando Arcia hit .264 with 17 home runs. As you can see, pretty close production for a fraction of the price.
Both Arcia and Swanson were sent to the All Star Game in 2023 and if the trend continues, Orlando Arcia may be an All Star again in 2024. This year Arcia is off to a fast start with 23 hits in 17 games, good for a .377 average.
