Braves' $300M Ronald Acuna nightmare looms after Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette deals

Hunter Cookston

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Braves' $300M Ronald Acuna nightmare looms after Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette deals image

The Atlanta Braves made a smart move several years ago by locking down Ronald Acuña Jr. In a record-breaking deal. GM Alex Anthopoulos recognized that Acuña was destined to be a star, and there’s no denying it. Giving him $100 million was a move that surprised many.

“The Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuña Jr. Have agreed to terms on an eight-year, $100 million extension that will keep the star outfielder under contract through the 2026 season. The record-setting deal, announced Tuesday, includes club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons,” ESPN insider Jeff Passan wrote.

Acuña has battled injuries, and the market has changed significantly since he signed the deal. Just look at the most recent big free-agent contract in Cody Bellinger. He hasn’t been the most consistent player, yet he still received a massive payout.

“The New York Yankees and outfielder Cody Bellinger are in agreement on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday, ending a standoff between two sides that preferred to reunite all winter long,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.

This presents a challenge for the Braves, who are not a high-spending team, as rising market salaries continue to put them at a disadvantage.

“The Braves must also account for future extensions for other core players, making payroll allocation a delicate exercise. Retaining Acuña long term is a priority, but accomplishing it will not be easy. Bellinger pulled in $162 million despite his up-and-down career thus far. Signing Acuña will almost certainly require more, both in total dollars and years,” HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote. “With each big-money contract we see like Bellinger or Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette, it feels increasingly likely that Ronald would have no trouble finding a deal worth at least $300 million if not significantly more.”

The Braves have built around Acuña and made him the face of the franchise. If he continues his monster success, Anthopoulos cannot allow Acuña to leave the way Freddie Freeman did. However, with market salaries continuing to rise, it’s a scary proposition for the Braves.

While this is still three years away, the Braves’ history with letting big names hit free agency isn’t encouraging. There’s a growing sense that they’ll need to get a deal done before Acuña reaches free agency—or risk losing him.

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