Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. has been phenomenal since his return from his second ACL tear. His stolen base numbers may be down, but he is still one of the best players in baseball.
Acuña was named an All-Star Game starter, despite not making his season debut until the end of May. While Acuña has been great, the Braves have underachieved and are fading out of contention. With that, rumors about the Braves trading Acuña are swirling. However, MLB insider Bob Nightengale revealed the team’s stance on any Acuña trade.
“Atlanta has zero interest in trading Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña is earning $17 million a year through 2026, and Atlanta has club options for $17 million in 2027 and 2028,” wrote Nightengale. “He’s not going anywhere.”
Acuña’s contract is a bargain for the Braves. However, they would be wise to lock up their franchise player. They have a very talented roster, and even if they miss the postseason this year, their team is built to turn things around next year. They’ve dealt with some tough injury luck this season. Acuña has also made it clear he wants to stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career.
“Outside of Venezuela, Atlanta is my second home, and I love being here,” Acuña told The Athletic’s David O’Brien. “I want to continue to be a member of this organization. I want to be in this organization for the rest of my career. I’m comfortable here. I like it here. I feel like I know everyone. And so for me it would just be a dream to be able to stay here.”
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Acuña is now a five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and MVP Award winner. He is due for a raise, and the Braves should not entertain trading him. Instead, they should gear up to make him a Brave for life and continue to be aggressive in the pursuit of a championship.
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