It’s been nearly a decade since Oswaldo Arcia wore a Minnesota Twins uniform. He last played for the Twins on June 14, 2016, when he went 0-for-4 at the plate against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
At that time, his younger brother, Orlando Arcia, was still a top 20 consensus prospect in baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers’ top prospect, who had yet to make his MLB debut. But now, 10 years on, Orlando Arcia is joining the organization where his brother got his start in professional baseball. The Twins signed him to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training over the weekend.
Arcia, 31, will be entering his 11th season in the majors in 2026, coming off a down year he spent between the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies. He played in 76 games primarily as a backup infielder with Atlanta and Colorado, and had an underwhelming .202/.238/.291 slash line with just three home runs, 13 RBI, and a dismal 42 OPS+ over 214 plate appearances.
Arcia’s bat has been in a steep decline since his All-Star season with the Braves in 2023. He still had decent power in 2024, when he played a career-high 157 games, with 17 home runs and 46 RBI, a 6.8% walk rate, and a 21.3% strikeout rate. The strikeout and walk rates weren’t any better for Arica in 2025, with a 22% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate.
All this being said, it’s clear the Twins are not signing Arcia for his bat. They added him as infield depth, and he will likely start the season at Triple-A.
After acquiring first baseman Eric Wagaman from the Miami Marlins on Friday, the Twins designated shortstop Ryan Fitzgerald for assignment to make room for him on the 40-man roster. The Twins could still retain Fitzgerald on a new minor-league deal, but it’s unclear if they will do so. After subtracting Fitzgerald, Arcia is in position to be Minnesota’s veteran backup shortstop to Brooks Lee this season.
The Twins bolstered their shortstop depth by signing Arcia. Lee struggled defensively when he took over shortstop full-time after Minnesota traded Carlos Correa during the trade deadline fire sale, committing six errors and having a -4 in outs above average. Arcia still had a positive contribution in outs above average at 2, with only three errors in 29 games.
While there are signs of decline in Arcia’s game, his defense has not taken as sharp a turn as his abilities at the plate. Still, the Twins needed a veteran shortstop on their bench to split playing time with Lee until they call up top prospect Kaelen Culpepper, and Arcia fits what they need.
Even if Arcia is not on the Opening Day roster, he will be a welcome addition to Minnesota’s Triple-A depth. The St. Paul Saints only have two infielders, Aaron Sabato and Tanner Schobel, on their active roster. It would also benefit Culpepper to have a mentor like Arcia while he’s at Triple-A to start the season.
Signing Orlando Arcia evokes nostalgia for those who were once high on his older brother’s upside and bolsters their infield depth as they fill out their roster. If Arcia’s decline from 2025 continues to worsen in 2026, then the Twins don’t lose out on much by signing him to a minor-league deal. However, if there are areas of improvement in his game, especially at the plate, then the Twins will have landed an affordable utility infielder.
There are still many roster improvements the Twins need to address before spring training begins in 46 days, especially with their bullpen. But adding Wagaman and Arcia at the start of the new year addresses their needs, even just a little, to help them have a better team on the field in 2026.