Ronald Acuña Jr. may have stirred up plenty of questions this year, but the Braves don’t appear ready to cut bait.
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, reporting Wednesday on the Bleacher Report app, Atlanta is unlikely to trade its star outfielder this offseason. Teams are expected to make a run at Acuña, but Heyman described any real deal as a “major longshot.”
That comes after a season that did little to quiet the conversation around the former NL MVP. Acuña wrapped up his ninth year with the Braves and finished the regular season batting .255 with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs in 107 games. When the playoffs arrived, things got even colder: he hit .125 with no extra-base hits as Atlanta fell in the NLDS.
So the focus now shifts to what comes next for the 28-year-old. With ACL tears in both knees over the last five years, there’s obvious curiosity about how his game will hold up as he moves toward his 30s.
For now, though, Atlanta still has some control. The Braves hold club options on Acuña for 2027 and 2028, both at $17 million. That makes the idea of keeping him around at least one more season a logical path, giving the club a chance to see whether he can bounce back.
Acuña has also been in the news lately for a controversial partnership and some cryptic changes to his social media page. Even with all that noise, the Braves seem content to wait it out rather than force a decision on one of their most recognizable stars.
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Braves Prospect Diego Tornes Faces Pressure Atlanta Cant Ignore
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The challenge for Tornes is bigger than one prospect making a personal leap. Atlanta has had too many recent international signings stall out because of disappointment or health problems, so every step he takes this season will be viewed through that lens. If he can start to look like a real success story, it would mean more than just progress for one player and give the Braves a needed lift in an area where they cannot afford many more misses. [Read more 🡒]