Just as spring training was getting started back in February, Ronald Acuña Jr. was already making headlines for the Atlanta Braves. With little else to talk about, Acuña made his intentions known that he wanted to be a Brave for life, he told David O'Brien of The Athletic. That, of course, meant that he was already looking ahead to his next deal.
“It's not a secret that I want to be a Brave for life. It's my hope that we can make that happen soon,” Acuña said.
Back in April of 2019, Acuña, like many Braves players, signed a long-term bargain deal with the team in the form of an eight-year, $100 million contract. If Acuña hadn't signed back then, this would be a walk year for him. His National League MVP award from last year, which consisted of a 40/70 campaign, would have put him in line for a massive deal once he hit the market. Which he most certainly would have.
Acuña, now age 26, entered the 2024 season in one of his final three guaranteed years of his contract with the Braves. However, the Braves have club options for 2027 and 2028, for which they'll owe him $17 million a year, per Spotrac. But did Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where Acuña went down with his second ACL injury in four years, change things?
The Braves could re-evaluate after Ronald Acuña Jr.'s latest injury
Ronald Acuña Jr. came in as one of the most highly touted prospects that the Braves have had since probably Chipper Jones. The hype for the Venezuelan-born superstar was immense from the moment he stepped into the batter's box at Great American Ballpark against the Cincinnati Reds back in April of 2018—and it hasn't stopped since.
That's what made it so impressive that Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos was able to pull off signing Acuña to such a bargain deal back in 2019, even if it was just a year after his debut. Watching how other talented players throughout the league have waived off offers before, most notably Juan Soto, it would have shocked no one to see Acuña turn down the deal he signed and seek higher offers on the free agency market in the coming winter.
But there could be the beginning of a crossroads now between Acuña and the Braves. It's obvious that after Acuña had his remarkable season last year, contract talks were bound to be next on his priority list. With as good as he was last season, making just $17 million probably didn't feel like MVP money. And one has to wonder if that could have been on his mind before he got hurt.
Was Ronald Acuña Jr. distracted by his team-friendly contract?
Most probably assumed that Acuña was going to jump right back into his 2023 form and vie for a second consecutive National League MVP. But that never came close to happening just before he went down this past Sunday, tearing the ACL in his left knee.
Acuña was slashing just .250/.351/.365 with an OPS of .716. His strikeout rate had skyrocketed to where he already had 53 on the year, whereas he had just 84 last season. Also, he had knocked just four out of the park in his 222 plate appearances.
This is pure speculation, but Acuña simply looked distracted, if not even disinterested at times. Not only was he not hitting, but he could be found making fundamental mistakes, like misplaying a routine fly ball or getting picked off at first base three times in two days.
Now we'll never know if he would have gotten out of his funk.
The Braves could not exercise their club options for Ronald Acuña Jr. now
Not exercising the last two years of Acuña's deal seems a bit far-fetched, but the Braves pull no punches when it comes to business. They let two of the most productive, fan favorite players in their history go to opposing teams over the last three years: Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers and Dansby Swanson to the Cubs. But would they really let a player like Acuña go?
It's unlikely Acuña will be a Brave by 2029, which is the year after the team's last club option. Acuña will be 31 and, going by the Braves' recent history with Freeman, who was 32 when he signed with the Dodgers, or Swanson, who was 29 when he signed with the Cubs, Atlanta won't produce the contract that he desires.
Therefore, would Anthopoulos and the Braves choose not to exercise the team's two option years? It seems unlikely just because of what they would still be paying Acuña. However, they also have to be realistic about what they have left with their right fielder.
At not even 27, Acuña will now be going through his second major injury in four years. Not only that, but both are ACL injuries in each knee. Considering a lot of what makes Acuña special is his speed, how much more is left of that in his game? Also, how much more can the Braves risk their seasons with the fear he could be out with another major injury, one that forces them yet again to make trades, losing prospects?
Remember, the Braves won their first World Series since 1995 back in 2021 without Acuña. Again, it's highly unlikely, but the next two year's could be the last of Acuña in a Braves jersey. Watching how he recovers now from a second ACL injury will be something to keep an eye on next year and beyond.
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