MLB insider says teams will try and trade for Ronald Acuña Jr, but “long shot” it happens

Ronald Acuña Jr. — somewhat unfairly, considering how few Braves showed up to play all postseason — took the brunt of the criticism after Atlanta fell to the Dodgers in the NLDS.

He didn’t come close to the standard he’s set for himself. This is a player who, when healthy, has been a top-five talent in the sport — a former NL MVP who, on the surface, doesn’t seem fazed by the moment.

But dig into his playoff numbers and you have to go back half a decade to find an October that resembles the Acuña we’re used to watching in the regular season. The postseason has been a sore spot for years, and this one was no different: .125 with zero extra-base hits and zero RBIs across six games.

Acuña was booed after his final at-bat against Los Angeles and later seen with tears in his eyes as he faced the music in front of the media. He then deleted all his social media, and the questions about his future in Atlanta started flying.

With two years left on his contract, is it finally time the Braves consider trading him if they have no intention of offering an extension?

Those are exactly the questions you get in the days after another disappointing October. The Braves clearly need to change something if they want to win in the postseason again — but if you think the answer is dealing away the most talented player on the roster, don’t hold your breath.

MLB insider Jon Heyman confirmed as much Wednesday, saying teams will call to check on Acuña’s availability, but that it’s a “long shot” the Braves actually move him.

Atlanta has won just one playoff series since hoisting the World Series trophy five years ago. They’re no longer in a position to scoff at anything. They should be listening to anybody and everybody — Ronald Acuña Jr. included.

But the real issue here, as it so often is, comes down to value. Are there really teams out there ready to offer a Juan Soto-type package for a player who’s dealt with a litany of injuries and is coming off arguably the worst season of his career?

I could be wrong, but the only way Anthopoulos ever moves his best player is if the return is simply too good to pass up — a haul that keeps the Braves legitimate contenders now while setting them up for even more three or four years down the line.

Short of someone walking through the door with that kind of offer, these conversations go nowhere. The Braves’ best shot at finally getting this postseason monkey off their back is with Acuña hitting leadoff and playing right field. Anyone who thinks otherwise is grossly misinformed.

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