Getty

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

Would the Atlanta Braves really consider trading Ronald Acuna Jr.? 

He was the 2023 NL Most Valuable Player, a five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger. Acuna only turns 28 this December, and his contract has one more year at $17 million, followed by two club options, both also at $17 million. 

When he plays, Acuna produces. During the two seasons when he appeared in nearly all of the Braves’ games – 156 in 2019, 159 in his MVP season of 2023 – Acuna finished with 41 home runs, triple digit RBIs and a combined 110 stolen bases, 73 of them in his MVP season. 

But injuries have cost Acuna big chunks of several seasons, playing under 100 games in three of the last five, just 49 a year ago. And the ever-present elephant in the room is that the Braves hoisted the 2021 World Series title in 2021, with Acuna sidelined for the second half of the season and playoffs with an ACL tear. 

“I don’t want to play this card, but the card is there: You won a World Series without him,” said sportscaster Chris Dimino with 680 The Fan in Atlanta. “What have you really done with him?”

Ronald Acuna Jr. Would Attract a Significant Trade Return

And yet, as the guys for MLB Network imagined , just think of what the Braves could demand in a trade for him. 

“You’d have a lot of takers,” Dan Plesac said. 

“You would get a haul in return for Ronald Acuna Jr.,” said Greg Amsinger. 

“Did I not say that all summer, that I’d trade him, and everybody thought I was nuts,” Harold Reynolds said. “But that’s how you turn the organization around.” 

MLB analyst Jim Riley of the BALLCAP Sports podcast analyzed potential trade packages from several teams, and he suggested trading for Acuna would be a good rebound for the Chicago Cubs to consider if they lose Kyle Tucker in free agency. Riley proposed the Cubs could acquire Acuna for a package of MLB-ready outfield prospect Owen Cassie (No. 44 in MLB, No. 1 for Chicago), pitchers Ben Brown and Javier Assad, and Double-A shortstop Pedro Ramirez (No. 8 for Chicago). 

Awkward Atmosphere in Atlanta Spurs Rumors of Possible Ronald Acuna Jr. Trade

The trade talk around Acuna spiked with Atlanta manager Brian Snitker’s recent decision in response to a slump to move Acuna out of his usual leadoff position down to the 6 and 7 spots over a four-game stretch. Some national media members said the move smacked of disrespect for the 27-year-old Acuna, with Snitker trying to send a message to a veteran player who is beyond such managerial ploys. 

“If you value Ronald Acuna Jr., his happiness and his finding it again should be the No. 1 priority for the rest of the season,” Amsinger said. 

Nick Cellini, Dimino’s co-host at 680 The Fan, acknowledged the lure of what Acuna could bring back in a trade, but he stressed that he would not trade Acuna, in part because of what would undoubtedly be an intense public backlash. 

“If you take the emotions out of this, if you really want to, to use (MLB Network’s) term, ‘flip the organization’ and restock the minor league system, and really shore up a bunch of things, at a huge risk, then yeah, that’s the guy you’re going to deal, with the contract and the ability,” Cellini said. “If you’re going to trade one guy, and you’re going to get a king’s ransom in return, it’s going to be Ronald Acuna Jr. But like I said, there is a flip side to that coin, and people are going to go crazy in this town if you make that deal. Crazy.” 

Dave Benson is a veteran writer with over three decades of journalism experience covering sports primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent several years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson

More Heavy on Cubs

Loading more stories