Ronald Acuña Jr. is not going to be part of the Seattle Mariners’ trade conversation after all.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Atlanta Braves have no interest in moving the 2023 NL MVP and won’t even entertain calls from teams that ask. Morosi said, “Further to this: I have heard the Braves have no interest in moving Acuña and will not engage with teams if they inquire.”
That shuts down a speculative fit that had made a lot of sense on paper. The Mariners have needed a bat for more than a year, while the Braves have been looking for starting pitching. With Jerry Dipoto now signaling a willingness to deal from Seattle’s rotation surplus, the idea of the two clubs lining up on a blockbuster had real appeal.
Acuña’s résumé still carries plenty of weight, even if the last few seasons have been uneven. In 2023, he played 159 games and put up 41 home runs, 73 stolen bases and 8.4 rWAR.
Since then, he has appeared in only 251 games and produced 45 homers, 46 steals and 5.0 rWAR. This year, his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were the worst of his career.
That may be part of why Atlanta is standing pat. The Braves could be reluctant to sell low on the 28-year-old, who is due $17 million in 2027 and another $17 million in 2028 if his option is picked up. Or they may simply believe he still has superstar-level baseball ahead of him.
For Seattle, the Acuña door closing doesn’t wipe out the market. Zach Neto remains a name to watch.
Steven Kwan is also circulating in trade chatter. And there are still possible paths to deals with the Chicago Cubs or Baltimore Orioles, both of whom have bats and need arms.
But if the Mariners are hunting for another superstar who might be available without a superstar price tag, the list just got a lot shorter. Gunnar Henderson is one possibility, though he’s not as clean a fit because he bats left-handed. Seattle needs a right-handed hitter, and Acuña at least out-hit Henderson this season.
The bigger issue is time. The CBA expires in three weeks, and once that happens, the rumor mill and movement are set to stop for what could be a long stretch.
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The interesting wrinkle is how Dipoto is approaching the market. He said this winters reliever class looks more attractive than the crop of available position players, but Seattle still appears inclined to pursue trades rather than lean too heavily on free agency. That puts the front office in the familiar spot of weighing cost, fit and timing, with bullpen targets and trade possibilities now sitting near the center of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Logan Gilbert Trade Talk Puts Mariners Roster Priorities In Focus
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For Seattle, the issue is bigger than one pitcher. Gilberts name has sharpened the focus on roster priorities, especially if the club decides it needs to turn a controllable starter into a different kind of help. With the meetings approaching, the Mariners are in the kind of position that forces front offices to weigh present value against future flexibility, and this one could get interesting quickly. [Read more 🡒]