he Atlanta Braves have enjoyed a triumphant return from franchise slugger Ronald Acuna Jr. but it hasn’t been enough to propel a playoff surge.

Since returning from the second significant knee injury of his career, Acuna has slashed a stellar .333/.452/.565. But after a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, the Braves have a 39-49 record and sit more than 12 games back from the lead in the National League East division.

That futility and Acuna’s persistent injuries pushed MLB Network’s Joel Sherman to explore the kind of trade return the Braves might get if they offer Acuna up in a potential trade this year.

He argued that the Braves could net a return that’s comparable to the blockbuster package the Washington Nationals received for trading superstar Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres three years ago, and pointed out that his injury history could be a reason to move on.

“Can you see a championship in the next two years? I don’t,” Sherman noted. “He’s had serious knee injuries to both knees. I would say let’s have a serious meeting about: is it time to do that? Because Acuna, in this marketplace, without offensive players of this stature, you could make the Juan Soto trade.”

Sherman’s point was enough to compel fellow panelist Carlos Pena to agree that trading Acuna could make sense for the Braves. But USA Today’s Bob Nightenale has reported that the Braves have decided to hang onto him.

“Atlanta has zero interest in trading Ronald Acuna Jr.,” Nightengale wrote. “Acuna is earning $17 million a year through 2026, and Atlanta has club options for $17 million in 2027 and 2028. He’s not going anywhere.”

The Braves seem unwilling to consider moving their franchise slugger, even after his latest knee injury hints that he could be susceptible to another setback at some point. Such a move would certainly alienate some fans, even if it makes sense in the long term.