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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

The Atlanta Braves may be out of the playoff race, but the final weeks of the season could still bring plenty of drama.  

In fact, the last few days have packed a bit of a punch, with MLB insiders chastising Braves manager Brian Snitker for “taking unnecessary shots ” at superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. It’s a situation that even has some suggesting Acuna could be traded during the offseason. 

Atlanta Manager Brian Snitker Criticized for Lineup Shuffling With Ronald Acuna Jr.

Although he didn’t play his first MLB game until May 23 while rehabbing from a knee injury, Acuna carried a batting average of over .300 well past the All-Star break. Acuna spent the first half of August on the 10-day injured list with a right Achilles tendon issue, and on Aug. 25, his 10th game back, an 0-for-4 game at Miami dropped him to .299.  

That signaled the start of Acuna’s first real slump of the season, including seven straight games without a hit. On Sept. 6, in the midst of that hitless stretch, Snitker seemed to send a message to his 27-year-old outfielder, one that had national pundits criticizing the 69-year-old manager who is expected to retire at the end of this season. 

Snitker moved Acuna out of the leadoff spot and batted him sixth for the first time since his rookie season in 2018. And immediately, Snitker’s decision was blasted. 

“Overall, this is a bizarre move that can be justified on the surface, but becomes a non-sensical, unnecessary decision once you look deeper at the numbers,” wrote Mitchell Barbee of FanSided’s House That Hank Built blog. 

For four consecutive games, Snitker placed Acuna in the 6 or 7 spot, before finally returning him to the 3 hole on Wednesday. It was a slap in the face to Acuna, according to the talking heads at MLB Network, who spent a portion of Monday’s show questioning Snitker’s decision. 

“If you are going to put him at sixth or seventh in the lineup, that is destroying the player, and that ain’t helping the team at all,” Harold Reynolds said. 

“This guy did everything – MVP, best player – at the top of the order. So he comes back from injury, everything else, he’s not getting it going. So let’s put him in an uncomfortable position in the lineup? ‘We’ll put him at seventh, oh, we’ll move him to sixth.’ No, you put him at first.” 

Drama Unfolding in Atlanta Spurs Speculation of Ronald Acuna Jr. Trade

And maybe now, they’ll put him in another team’s lineup. Referencing the Acuna situation, as well as MLB Network’s suggestion that it could open the possibility of a trade, Jim Riley of the BALLCAP Sports podcast agreed that Acuna could well be lamenting his contract terms that have him staying in Atlanta for one more season at $17 million, plus two club options at $17 million each. 

“I cannot think Ronald’s very happy right now,” Riley said. 

Analyzing the teams that would have the financial means to afford Acuna, as well as the prospect capital to swap for him, Riley plugged values into his trade machine to generate a proposal from the New York Yankees that would send shortstop Anthony Volpe, pitcher Ian Hamilton and a pair of their top prospects , outfielder Spencer Jones (MLB No. 87, Yankees No. 3) and pitcher Bryce Cunningham (Yankees No. 4). 

“I think Yankee fans would sign up for this all day long,” Riley acknowledged. “Braves fans, I don’t know.” 

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

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