Ronald Acuña Jr. announces decision on Braves future as contract discourse begins

The Atlanta Braves have one of the best players in baseball on their team in Ronald Acuña Jr. However, his contract is becoming a topic of discussion.

The Braves signed Acuña to an eight-year, $100 million deal in 2019 on the heels of a Rookie of the Year campaign. He is a four-time All-Star and was just named a starter for this year’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. He has also won an MVP Award. Acuña’s contract looks like a major bargain for the Braves right now, but the time is quickly approaching for him to sign a new deal.

He has three more years of control, including two $17 million club options. However, he is clearly worth more than the $17 million average he is currently making. The Braves may start thinking about extending their superstar player so that they do not have contract negotiations hanging over their head. However, it takes two sides to agree to an extension, and Acuña made it very clear where he stands on his future with the Braves, according to The Athletic’s David O’Brien.

“Outside of Venezuela, Atlanta is my second home, and I love being here,” Acuña said. “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.”

In February 2024, Acuña noted that he wants to remain a Brave for life and hoped the team could “make that happen soon,” he told O’Brien. It’s no secret that he wants a new contract. He has earned a raise and more security. His latest comments simply reaffirm that he wants to stay with the Braves, but his comments from last year indicate that he does not want to wait around until his current deal is up.

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Acuña has dealt with some injuries, but there is no doubt he is one of the best players in the league. He was named an All-Star starter despite starting the season late. He has played in just 37 games, but has a .344/.459/.588 slash line with nine home runs. This is not the first time

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