The Braves won’t be extending Ronald Acuna Jr.’s deal in the near future.
It’s no secret that I aspire to live a courageous life. I’m hoping we can accomplish it quickly,” Acuna stated to The Athletic’s David O’Brien.
It’s understandable that Acuna, the National League MVP winner from the previous year, is making vague references to extending his deal.
Let’s not go overboard and claim that Acuna is, in any way, Ohtani. Acuna hasn’t even touched the pitcher’s mound, really.
However, following his incredible year in 2023, when he broke and set records—most notably, his 40/70 feat of home runs (41) and stolen bases (73)—had Acuna not signed an 8-year, $100 million extension back in 2019, he would have become the talk of the town this coming season, much like Ohtani did in his walk year with the Angels the previous year.
This season, the excellent right fielder will make $17 million, the lowest salary by a wide measure among players similar to him in terms of age, contract status, and statistical output.
These guys include Trea Turner ($31.2 million), Rafael Devers ($31.35 million), Carlos Correa ($33.33 million), and Francisco Lindor ($34.1 million), according to Spotrac.
The contract dispute between the Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuna Jr.
As every informed baseball fan knows, the Braves are getting Acuna for a significant price. Deals that are advantageous to teams are often given out by Atlanta.
There are presently seven players, including Acuna, who have contracts that will keep them wearing Braves uniforms for at least 2028 and have lengths of six, seven, eight, or ten years.
With a 10-year, $212 million contract and an average salary of $21.2 million each season, Austin Riley has the longest and most lucrative agreement.
“Are you aware of the frightening aspect? On Friday, Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters in Bally Sports South, “He’s at an age where he’s going to become better.”
And when the Braves signed him to an extension back in 2019, at the age of just 21, they knew full well that. Even though he is currently 26 years old, entering his peak years, and having recently experienced his finest year to date statistically, is there any way he can improve?
Acuna is attempting to stay ahead of the curve, much as he does when he’s in the batter’s box—which is coincidentally how Atlanta handled his 2019 contract—giving the Braves plenty of time to work on an extension, should they decide to pursue it.
With outfielder Juan Soto recently acquired by the New York Yankees, Acuna and the Braves will be watching what kind of deal Soto gets or demands when he hits free agency following the 2019 season.
History tells us that the Yankees will cover the costs; the Braves won’t. Over the past two years, Acuna has had to watch two of his teammates—first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Dansby Swanson—join other organizations. Both players were thought to be Braves lifers, much like Acuna aspires to be.
As much as Acuna would prefer to curry favor with Braves executives like general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the reality is that the franchise operates on its own terms and has no issues with players leaving to join other teams. This is particularly true for older athletes searching for long-term contracts.
The Braves allowed Swanson to sign with the Cubs at age 29, and they let Freeman, who was 31, join the Dodgers. If Acuna’s club options for 2027 and 2028 are selected by the Braves, he will turn 31 the following year and become a free agent.
It would seem that an extension of eight to ten years, at a cost of $300 to 380 million, would be appropriate if Acuna wanted to end his career in Atlanta. The Braves are quite unlikely to even consider making such an offer.
Returning to Riley, he will be 37 years old when he signs a free agency contract after spending $212 million over ten years.
If you want to play for Atlanta, you have to go the Braves’ route, which is to sign young players to long-term, lower agreements and then ask them to take extensions that are less than market value later on, unless there is a significant change in the organization’s upper management.
However, it’s also critical to keep in mind that the Braves are a publicly traded business as of July 2023. That implies that they reinvest every dollar they make back into the group. The problem is that Acuna might not be a member of the team in the future since the Braves might not want to pay him a significant amount of their salary.
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Picking baseball’s top 10 offenses entering 2024 season
There is competition among the Braves, Astros, Dodgers, and Rangers for the #1 slot on this list.
Even though we’ve already published the pre-spring training power rankings and MLB Opening Day is still more than a month away, there are still ardent fans out there seeking the most power rankings possible (yeah, I’ve heard from all of you via telepathy). This implies that in the upcoming weeks, we will need to locate new items to rank. Let us go for the offenses this time.
Now, with an addition like, say, Cody Bellinger (let me select someone at random), things might change. The Cubs are the clear favorite there, and Bellinger’s arrival would bring them inside the top 10, if not inside. As it is now, though, that’s a supporting-cast type of offensive.
We haven’t seen Seiya Suzuki in a complete season yet, but perhaps this one will see him take the step into the main character area.
At least one prominent character, if not more, is present on every team in the top 10. That is crucial. These kinds have a greater impact than a deep lineup alone; however, a deep lineup is undoubtedly important as we advance up the ladder. A team with a large supporting cast and a few key characters is at the top.
1. The Braves of Atlanta
Last season, the Braves ended first in the majors with 947 runs and second with 906. Number five was 827, and number seven was 807! That is the magnitude of the offensive powerhouse. Jarred Kelenic replaces Eddie Rosario, for the most part, and no one is really anticipated to be any worse. Along with several more players like Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and others, they have Ronald Acuña Jr., the MVP.
Why overthink it when there’s simply nothing to fault with this amazing group? They are, without a doubt, the best.
2. Dodgers of Los Angeles
The Dodgers were second in the league in runs scored the previous season, and they have both of their MVP contenders back: Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. Neither player should begin to decline with age just yet.
Behind the headliners, Will Smith and Max Muncy make a nice middle-order combination. Oh, and did we not mention that Shohei Ohtani now occupies the seat between these two guys? The addition of Teoscar Hernández and the return of Gavin Lux from ACL surgery should allay worries about the back third of the lineup from the previous season.
3. The Astros of Houston
The ALCS-winning squad, which retains every significant player, was fifth in runs scored in the previous campaign. Even with Yordan Alvarez’s 114 games and Jose Altuve’s 90, they managed to rank in the top five offenses.
They are loaded to that extent. They could contend for the top slot here if they can prevent injuries to everyone. Yainer Diaz and Chas McCormick improve when given more playing time.
4. The Rangers of Texas
It was still kind of odd to be able to claim that my favorite team had won the World Series, so I just started calling them “the champs” all the time. Ever since, I’ve made it my goal to spread the sentiment to as many additional fan bases as I can. So let’s get started.
The Champs, who were without MVP candidate Corey Seager for more than 40 games, finished third in the majors in runs scored during the previous season.
Adolis García, Seager, and Marcus Semien make up one of baseball’s best trios. Is Evan Carter going to be a super producer? Consider the highly anticipated Wyatt Langford.
Is Josh Jung able to advance any further? I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Rangers at a higher level before the conclusion of the season because there is a lot of promise here.
5. The Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had an eighth-ranked offense last season, despite a lot going wrong with their lineup. After Tommy John surgery, Bryce Harper missed the first month of the season, and it took some time for his power to return.
Until August, Trea Turner seemed to have forgotten how to hit. Their first baseman was essentially gone after Rhys Hoskins tore his ACL during spring training. Since 2015, J.T. Realmuto has not had a better offensive season.
Now that things are a little more settled, I anticipate both a tremendous (perhaps MVP-caliber) season from Harper and a significant full-season comeback from Turner.
6. Orioles of Baltimore
Last season, the Baby Birds finished eighth in runs scored, although they were still very young. Adley Rutschman was playing in his first 162-game MLB season, and Gunnar Henderson had a difficult start to his first complete season.
There will be a sighting of Jackson Holliday and more from the group of gifted young players that were rookies the previous season. Cedric Mullins can do much better, too.
7. Yankees of New York
Last year, the Bronx Bombers were anything but bombers. With 25 runs scored, they were only surpassed by weak teams. How, therefore, could I get them all the way up to eighth place? Well, they could have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, two of the top hitters in baseball this season.
Last season, Judge played in just 106 games, while Soto was on the opposite coast. Only 99 games were played by Anthony Rizzo, and it was discovered toward the end of the season that he struggled with concussions for the majority of the season. Meanwhile, Alex Verdugo provides depth to the roster, and Anthony Volpe continues to progress. This ranking may even turn out to be excessively conservative.
8. Cardinals in St. Louis
The Cardinals finished bottom in the league last season, in large part due to a dismal rotation. The offense was historically unlucky in a number of ways (my great colleague Dayn Perry lays it out here).
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado remain two of their key character types, and Willson Contreras might be among the game’s top catchers in terms of hitting. They could be very good because of young players like Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and Masyn Winn.
9. Diamondbacks of Arizona
The reigning NL champions will keep wreaking havoc on the bases (they were second in the majors with 166 thefts) and will tie the Jays for 14th place in runs scored last season.
With Eugenio Suárez and Joc Pederson joining the lineup, it is now much deeper and more potent, and Corbin Carroll, who has a full season of experience, is a player worthy of MVP honors.
Considering their youth, Gabriel Moreno and Alek Thomas are capable of moving forward and keeping an eye out for Jordan Lawlar.
10. Blue Jays of Toronto
So far, I’ve believed that “if everything breaks perfectly, they may be the best or maybe the top three” for every team. After the Blue Jays’ underwhelming performance in the previous season, I’m a little less optimistic. Nevertheless, with George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., they have an abundance of star potential.
They have a potentially excellent offense if Daulton Varsho makes a step forward, Alejandro Kirk has a strong comeback season, and Justin Turner continues to stave off aging.
I am willing to move them down. Although there are valid reasons to remove them from the top 10 and replace them with the Rays or Reds, Bichette and Guerrero’s upside wins out in this case.
