Cameron Maybin thinks the Yankees should swing big this offseason, and his preferred target is a name that still carries plenty of shine: Ronald Acuña Jr.
The former Yankees outfielder is pushing the idea of New York going after the Braves star, even if it means moving on from Giancarlo Stanton and reshaping the DH setup around Aaron Judge. In Maybin’s view, Judge would serve as the “primary” DH while still getting time in right field, and Acuña would take over as the main right fielder.
“Do the Yankees Move [on] from my guy big G this offseason, and move Aaron Judge to primary DH/RF to keep him healthy and go after Ronald Acuña Jr. ? Maybin wrote on social media.
“I still believe,… and I’ll die on this Hill some players need the pinstripes to bring out the best in them. It may not be the best, but call me crazy… I still think Ronald still has some of that magic in him and would turn up in the Bronx! He’s a showman, and what better stage to perform on"
Acuña, who won the 2023 NL MVP and has made five All-Star teams, had a season interrupted by injuries but still put together a .255 average with 20 home runs, 55 RBI and a .796 OPS. The Braves were bounced by the Dodgers in the ALDS.
The trade speculation doesn’t stop there. John Perrotto of FanSided floated a different Yankees package, suggesting New York send Clarke Schmidt and two prospects, Xavier Rivas and Brendan Beck, to Atlanta for Acuña.
There is at least some reason the rumor mill keeps turning. Acuña got emotional after Wednesday’s game and said he wanted to stay with the Braves, even as his social media activity hinted otherwise.
At the same time, general manager Alex Anthopoulos could take a different view after Acuña’s rough postseason. His eight-year, $100-million deal runs out of its guaranteed money at the end of the month, though the Braves still hold $17-million club options for 2027 and 2028.
That kind of team control makes him an appealing piece on paper - and, if Atlanta ever decides not to extend him after next season, a name that could land in the middle of plenty of trade chatter.
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