Twins Add Veteran Shortstop Depth with Orlando Arcia Signing

[The Great Hambino]

57 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I didn't think "no half measures" meant "We won't make a move that could even be called a half-measure. All our transactions will be non-factors that are neutral at best or perhaps make the team worse".

Maybe when you add them all up together you get one full measure.  His statement makes a lot more sense if you think about it that way

One quarter measure (Bell) plus two eighth measures (Orze/Jackson) plus eight sixteenth measures (Wagaman/Arcia/Kriedler/five other "value" bets TBD) equals one full measure!  And no half measures either!  I hope the turnstiles will be able to handle all the excitement

[JD-TWINS]

37 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

So well in fact that the Twins ended the year on a 57-win pace.  

How does the TWINS ‘25 win record pace, after they gave up July 31, have anything to do with Ty France signing a minor league deal last off-season?

Just rambling about nothing to bitch more.

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Ty France also signed a minor league deal too. How did that turn out? We don’t know the terms of the contract yet but if Arcia is making $1 million or more he’s going to be on the MLB team. 

If you think the Ty France contract is why the 2025 Twins sucked or even a bad deal, and not one of many examples of a low risk veteran contract working out, then I think you should probably just refrain from commenting further. 

45 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

So well in fact that the Twins ended the year on a 57-win pace.  

Did Ty France make the bad team worse? Or are you just complaining for the sake of complaining? Do you want to complain about Harrison Bader next? Or Danny Coulombe? 

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, NYCTK said:

If you think the Ty France contract is why the 2025 Twins sucked or even a bad deal, and not one of many examples of a low risk veteran contract working out, then I think you should probably just refrain from commenting further

I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion. I pushed back on the post saying Arcia signed a minor league deal and he won’t be a part of the MLB team

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion. I pushed back on the post saying Arcia signed a minor league deal and he won’t be a part of the MLB team

Fair enough. But Ty France is still a bad example because there was clearly no one better than him. Ryan Fitzgerald is actually a better comparison. He signed a minor league contract with the Twins, and was only called up when there was no one left. They sign a bunch of players to minor league contracts, and most of them don't make the team. 

Getting stressed about this specific move is incredibly foolish. But this team sucks so I get why everyone's upset. 

[D.C Twins]

 'Derek Falvey loves to set a floor for the roster,'

Oh be still my heart!

(Remind me how 'loving to set a floor' fits with 'go big or go home' again? Ignorant Twins fans still considering buying season tickets need to know :)

[Woof Bronzer]

55 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

How does the TWINS ‘25 win record pace, after they gave up July 31, have anything to do with Ty France signing a minor league deal last off-season?

Just rambling about nothing to bitch more.

Because you said the deal "worked out well".  My opinion is nothing "worked out well" when you end up with a 57-win pace, and signing guys like Ty France and expecting to improve the team's fortune is why this franchise has won 1 ALDS in 3 decades.  But maybe you like the losing?

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, Woof Bronzer said:

So well in fact that the Twins ended the year on a 57-win pace.  

France was still playing in October 😁

[Woof Bronzer]

54 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

If you think the Ty France contract is why the 2025 Twins sucked or even a bad deal, and not one of many examples of a low risk veteran contract working out, then I think you should probably just refrain from commenting further. 

Did Ty France make the bad team worse? Or are you just complaining for the sake of complaining? Do you want to complain about Harrison Bader next? Or Danny Coulombe? 

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll keep commenting though.  I didn't say the France contract was a bad deal, but what I said was who cares, France produced 0.8 WAR for the Twins and 0.8 WAR guys do not move the needle, they're a dime a dozen, and the Twins ended the year on a 57 win pace.  The 2025 plan, to build around the core with guys like France, Bader, and Coulombe and compete for the Al Central, didn't work. They did not help this team contend. So yes, I'll say it again:  France, Bader, sand Coulombe did not help this team win games.  Falvey is doing the same exact thing this offseason.  It didn't work the last 2 offseasons.  But sure, THIS time it'll work great!

Continuing to invest in replacement level players ensures that the Twins will be a replacement level team for years to come.

[Riverbrian]

Players being signed to minor league contracts simply don't matter to me. All teams sign players to minor league contracts. 

What matters to me is the current depth of the SS and 1B position that puts these depth signings on the fringes of 26 man necessity.  

Arcia signed a minor league deal because nobody would offer him a 40 man roster spot. Nobody else will give Fitzgerald or Kreidler a 40 man spot. That's our current depth.

2026 is most likely going to hinge on Brooks Lee and I'm ok with Brooks Lee. I'm not going to bet against him but I'd rather place multiple bets.     

The ownership group and front office had a conversation and decided to go for it in 2026 and without enough money to PROPERLY fill these huge development holes at SS, 1B and C. 

Only SS has as anyone sniffing MLB ready (Culpepper) and he hasn't seen AAA yet. We will need Culpepper to  come out of the box strong in St. Paul because we are a Brooks Lee injury away from Arcia playing every day. 

  

 

[DJL44]

7 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

France produced 0.8 WAR for the Twins and 0.8 WAR guys do not move the needle, they're a dime a dozen,

Beats the hell out of acquiring guys who produced negative WAR last year.

5 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

we are a Brooks Lee injury away from Arcia playing every day. 

Brooks Lee - the guy with chronic back issues.

[Woof Bronzer]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Beats the hell out of acquiring guys who produced negative WAR last year.

I agree, Falvey is terrible at his job.  

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

 

Brooks Lee - the guy with chronic back issues.

Yep... the same guy. 

We were thin at the position going into the off-season. The addition of Arcia doesn't make it thick. 

This would have been the perfect off-season to acquire a MLB ready prospect who can play the SS position. 

But... they are going for it. 

[Russ]

No mention of brother Oswaldo, an ex-Twin

[Vanimal46]

3 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Fair enough. But Ty France is still a bad example because there was clearly no one better than him. Ryan Fitzgerald is actually a better comparison. He signed a minor league contract with the Twins, and was only called up when there was no one left. They sign a bunch of players to minor league contracts, and most of them don't make the team. 

Getting stressed about this specific move is incredibly foolish. But this team sucks so I get why everyone's upset. 

When France signed people said no big deal it’s only $1 million he probably won’t make the team. When it was basically a guarantee he was going to make the team. Same thing applies with Arcia. We don’t have anyone else capable of playing SS behind Lee. I would put a lot of money on Arcia being the backup SS opening day 

[Major League Ready]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Only SS has as anyone sniffing MLB ready (Culpepper) and he hasn't seen AAA yet. We will need Culpepper to  come out of the box strong in St. Paul because we are a Brooks Lee injury away from Arcia playing every day. 

I guess I understand (sort of) why they signed him but that is a frightening reality.  

[NYCTK]

3 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

France, Bader, sand Coulombe did not help this team win games.

They quite literally did though. It's just that the team was far worse than many people thought. To get that production, about 5 WAR, for what came in under $10 million combined is quite good work from the front office if we're being honest, which many people here have trouble with. And that's not even counting the prospects that came back in return; Mendez, Horn, Roden (kind of), and Villoria.

The signing of these three players was an undeniable success for the front office. That is, unless you just want to complain for the sake of complaining. 

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

When France signed people said no big deal it’s only $1 million he probably won’t make the team. When it was basically a guarantee he was going to make the team. Same thing applies with Arcia. We don’t have anyone else capable of playing SS behind Lee. I would put a lot of money on Arcia being the backup SS opening day 

It was only as much a guarantee as far as Miranda and Julien being both guaranteed to suck. 

A lot of people were also really convinced that Mike Ford was a guarantee to make the team to "block" some nebulous prospect. 

And as far as Arcia making the team, yeah, he very well might. Because this organization sucks. But people are convinced he's going to block a prospect that isn't even ready for the major leagues. And those people look ridiculous. 

3 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Because you said the deal "worked out well".  My opinion is nothing "worked out well" when you end up with a 57-win pace, and signing guys like Ty France and expecting to improve the team's fortune is why this franchise has won 1 ALDS in 3 decades.  But maybe you like the losing?

My new standard is no deal "worked out well" if it doesn't result in a World Series victory. Why actually look at the deal itself when we have a clear barometer?

Every single free agent signing since 1991 has been terrible because it hasn't resulted in a world series. Nay, every single roster move has been terrible since 1991. Drafting Joe Mauer? Terrible. Extending Mauer? Terrible. Trading for Pablo Lopez? So far, so bad. Etc, etc. 

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Because you said the deal "worked out well".  My opinion is nothing "worked out well" when you end up with a 57-win pace, and signing guys like Ty France and expecting to improve the team's fortune is why this franchise has won 1 ALDS in 3 decades.  But maybe you like the losing?

Your “take” is ridiculous!

Matt Wallner - Brooks Lee - Royce Lewis ALL underperforming is why the Twins sucked in ‘25……..along with starting pitcher injuries.

Bader - France - Coulombe had zero to do with not being competitive.

The 57 game win pace after July 31 was due to Bader - Castro - FRANCE - Varland - Duran - Jax - Coulombe all being traded for youth. They then became non-competitive.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

I guess I understand (sort of) why they signed him but that is a frightening reality.  

They don't have a choice and that is what ultimately bugs me. They have to have people fill the open spaces and they don't. It's the single purpose of the minor leagues... to produce choices. 

You and I both know that they have a budget and it's pretty safe to assume that no matter what that budget is... or weather people agree with it. We can all see that they are up against that budget based on how they are operating. The same way of operating since the RSN money dried up. 

They don't have a choice because they haven't produced players who are cost controlled with years of service available. Players who can gain from MLB experience and can then apply what they learned to future years.  

A youngster who can match what Arcia produces... should be an extremely low bar and we don't have that.  

They have put themselves in a situation where they have to run multiple low grade options at the problem.  

It's never specific player related for me that bugs me. Arcia himself doesn't bug me. Sign him to a minor league deal... that's fine but we can see the door is wide open for him to break camp with the club.

It's the constant year after year need for Arcia or someone like Arcia that bugs me. 

Who knows... Arcia might bounce back significantly and have an average season and help us win a few games along the way. It doesn't matter because whatever he does. He will be here for one year and we are looking again.  

They had the opportunity to fix these rather larege development holes via trade this off-season. They passed on that opportunity. They are going for it. 

We will see how this (I believe it's a) mistake plays out down the road but I believe they have set the franchise back a year or two or three in order to go for it and they think Bell and Arcia is going for it. 

If Joe Ryan gets hurt this year and the Twins don't make the playoffs. The not trading Joe Ryan mistake will be enormous. 

I'm going to watch the rest of the off-season and see the finished product. They won't be looking for a 1B or SS. Check those boxes.

It's been all quiet on the bullpen front. Let's see what they do. What OF will they move? At least one trade is coming. 

 

[Danchat]

18 hours ago, Fatbat said:

I bet against it. Who is getting the boot off the 40 man for Arcia? Why add him to the 40/26 on opening day if he signs a minor league contract? As far as I know, Arcia’s agent can still find him a mlb contract at any time and he can jump ship to another team. 

It's very common for at least one player on a minor league deal to make the club and a corresponding move is made. DFA'ing Kreidler would be a very easy move to make given that in this scenario Arcia has won the backup SS job over him. They probably want Kreidler off the 40 man roster and in AAA anyways, they're probably just waiting until the right time to do so.

[Cris E]

43 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

It's the constant year after year need for Arcia or someone like Arcia that bugs me. 

You're working kind of hard to pretend that they never went out and got Correa. They have gone out and filled holes just as you asked, and then people complain about how that went, so when they dump that guy you get to complain that we never make any moves. 

I get that you're talking more generally than one specific position, that Bell and Arcia were signed because we don't have kids ready for the spots. But honestly you're complaining baselessly about a lot of veteran fringe, backup guys that Falvey has had decent luck with. You really need to get on Royce and Wallner and Larnach for not doing anything with the full years they were granted in 2025. They're not young and they didn't have to share time that much and they proved to be mostly average. 

[lecroy24fan]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

When France signed people said no big deal it’s only $1 million he probably won’t make the team. When it was basically a guarantee he was going to make the team. Same thing applies with Arcia. We don’t have anyone else capable of playing SS behind Lee. I would put a lot of money on Arcia being the backup SS opening day 

Baldelli said shortly after France signed he was the starting 1B. 

 

I do agree as of now that Arcia is on the opening day roster.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

 

If Joe Ryan gets hurt this year and the Twins don't make the playoffs. The not trading Joe Ryan mistake will be enormous. 

I guess there is always a market for a guy like Ryan but it seems like more legit contenders are looking than other years which should make for a good return.  It will be interesting to see if Milwaukee gets an impact prospect for Peralta.  Of course, Peralta only has 1 year of control so we will have to assess how much more Ryan would be worth.  

It sure looks like this is fan appeasement and they can then go ahead and trade Ryan at the deadline.  If he is having a great year that might work out fine.  However, what if he is having a bad year or even worse as you point out, he gets hurt, we could end up with nothing.   If we had a reasonable chance, I get it but our odds at the post season are really low.  A whole lot of things have to go really well.

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, Cris E said:

You're working kind of hard to pretend that they never went out and got Correa. They have gone out and filled holes just as you asked, and then people complain about how that went, so when they dump that guy you get to complain that we never make any moves. 

I get that you're talking more generally than one specific position, that Bell and Arcia were signed because we don't have kids ready for the spots. But honestly you're complaining baselessly about a lot of veteran fringe, backup guys that Falvey has had decent luck with. You really need to get on Royce and Wallner and Larnach for not doing anything with the full years they were granted in 2025. They're not young and they didn't have to share time that much and they proved to be mostly average. 

Correct.. I am talking generally. I'm not pretending anything.

There are many posts of mine where I face the stiff winds on TD many times to point out that the Twins spent quite a bit. More than I ever thought they would ever spend. A severe correction doesn't shock me... nor do I care about the money... because I understand the revenue class of teams that the Twins have always been in. I've typed that many times. 

I'll get on Royce, Wallner and Larnach but right now... they are just part of this developing lack of development story. You just mentioned 3 guys devoloped under our care that don't play SS or 1B. Two spots where we don't even have a Royce, Wallner or Larnach to play those positions and scrimping pennies to fill. 

That is what I'm generally talking about!!! 

I understand why they signed Bell, Arcia, Wagaman, France. All of them. 

The reason they need to do that is what I'm generally talking about. 

[KirbyDome89]

14 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

He won a gold glove and was an average hitter, worked out well ……..it’s depth move with Arcia, period. If he’s on the roster it’s because circumstances deem it necessary - not because he’s making X $$.

I too, as another reader here stated, think that he more than likely has an “out” if his agent can find him an MLB deal ……… certainly after June 1.

Congrats to the Twins for finding a way to manipulate a defensive metric and feign defensive improvement. 

Ty Fance had a .678 OPS for the Twins last season. That's not remotely close to an average bat for 1B. 

[dxpavelka]

23 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Lee shouldn't be entirely written off, but 700 PA in back to back seasons is getting to be a pretty solid sample size. There's a high degree of likelihood he'll never hit well enough to hold down an starting spot on an MLB team. I've seen enough of Lee already to want the team to be planning to supplant him. 

That's 700 PA career not in back to back seasons.

[rv78]

14 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

The 57 game win pace after July 31 was due to Bader - Castro - FRANCE - Varland - Duran - Jax - Coulombe all being traded for youth. They then became non-competitive.

I think the correct way to phrase this is the Twins became MORE non-competitive. They weren't competitive before July 31 with Bader - Castro - FRANCE - Varland - Duran - Jax - Coulombe or they wouldn't have dumped them.

[Woof Bronzer]

 

15 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Your “take” is ridiculous!

Matt Wallner - Brooks Lee - Royce Lewis ALL underperforming is why the Twins sucked in ‘25……..along with starting pitcher injuries.

Bader - France - Coulombe had zero to do with not being competitive.

The 57 game win pace after July 31 was due to Bader - Castro - FRANCE - Varland - Duran - Jax - Coulombe all being traded for youth. They then became non-competitive.

You don't seem to be understanding.  

The 2024 Twins won 82 games.  The plan for 2025 was to run it back and add a few pieces.  Those pieces turned out to be France, Coulumbe, and Bader. 

The 2025 team with these 3 was on a 72 win pace before the sell off.  

The team with those 3 was 10 games worse than the team without them.  Is it all their fault?  No.  Do "value" contracts turn teams into competitors?  No.  Do 0.8 WAR players move the needle?  Absolutely not.  If the 2026 Twins are to compete they need several needle movers, not 0-1 WAR guys.  They're solely signing 0-1 WAR guys.  

The Twins could have 13 great value contracts for each of its hitters, similar to France.  It would be the worst team in MLB history.  

The point of baseball is to win games, not sign a bunch of value contracts.  

[Fatbat]

@bean5302 Its a safe bet to believe Lee is going to be a solid MLB backup role player. He is slow so he better hit the ball far and often. Who would you like to be the opening day SS? Lee or Arcia?