Late Monday night, the baseball world was abuzz with news of Pete Crow-Armstrong's massive contract extension with the Cubs, reportedly exceeding $100 million. Crow-Armstrong, when he's on his game, is one of the most electrifying players out there, though his inconsistency has raised some eyebrows about this hefty payday. This move also casts a spotlight on the Braves' situation with Ronald Acuña Jr., suggesting they may have missed their window to secure him long-term.
The idea of extending Acuña Jr. isn't new. The Braves had previously locked him into an early extension, which turned out to be a steal, even with his injury setbacks.
Yet, there's been little progress on a new deal to keep him in Atlanta through his prime. Fans have been on edge, watching other stars across the league sign extensions, while Acuña Jr. himself has expressed his desire to remain a Brave for life.
Now, with Crow-Armstrong's deal finalized, the prospect of a long-term agreement with Acuña Jr. seems more distant than ever.
Looking at Crow-Armstrong's price tag, a new deal for Acuña Jr. might just be out of reach for the Braves now.
Acuña Jr.'s knee injuries provided a potential opening for Atlanta to negotiate an extension when the risks might have been balanced by a reasonable deal that still showed him the respect he deserves. Yet, there’s been no indication of movement towards such an extension.
The Braves appear content with the current, team-friendly terms of his last deal. Meanwhile, the market value for young talent continues to rise, as evidenced by recent deals like Cristopher Sanchez's and now Crow-Armstrong's.
This leaves Acuña Jr. potentially outside the Braves’ financial comfort zone. If Crow-Armstrong commands such a figure, imagine what a Rookie of the Year and MVP like Acuña Jr. might fetch on the open market.
While Acuña Jr. might offer a hometown discount, especially considering his injury history, there's a limit to how much he would concede. We don't have a clear picture of Acuña Jr.'s current asking price, but it's undoubtedly on the rise.
The Braves might be biding their time, waiting to see how Acuña Jr. performs after his second knee surgery, or perhaps they’re holding out for clarity on the next CBA. However, as the rest of the league continues to secure their stars, the opportunity for the Braves to lock down Acuña Jr. may already be slipping away.