A Ronald Acuna Jr. off season plan.
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2026 11:18 pm
Turns out Acuna Jr. stripped all references to the Braves from his social media. It's pretty clear a split is coming and they will likely look to trade him.
He's owed $17M the next two years on club options. The Braves will clearly pick that up and then use the cheap $$ and potential of Acuna as leverage in a trade.
Now, Acuna flies a bit in the face of what the M's say they're focusing on this off season. His attitude issues with the Braves over the last 3 years have been noted and evidenced by the recent stripping of his social media. He's been accused by some of lacking in effort defensively and his defense has taken a major hit since he was quite good in the early years of his career. He also has had a number of knee injuries that some say has diminished his range in the outfield.
But I'd ask, how often do you get the chance at adding a player whose bat fits EXACTLY what you need and he's just 29 years old at a bargain even if he returns to 75% of that form? Perhaps a change of scenery also results in a change of attitude and the defense + effort perks up because of it? Despite only putting up 1.9 bWAR in 109 games in '26, his offensive metrics are still off the chart.
2026 is pictured on the left... and he's just one year removed from a '25 season (the right) where he put up a .935 OPS with 21 homers and 3.5 bWAR over 95 games. I say you have to take a flier on this type of player... especially if you're Dipoto and need to catch some lightning in a bottle to win now.
Trades:
M's trade RHP Bryce Miller, LHP Mason Peters, and IF/OF Brock Rodden to the Braves for OF Ronald Acuna Jr.
MLBTV has both Miller and Acuna's trade value at about the same in their trade sim... and both seem light but I'd say comparable as Miller is controlled for one more season than Acuna through 2029. MLBTV is down on Acuna given the injury history and less production in '26, could say the same for Miller. The Braves need young starting pitching quite badly. Chris Sales will be 38 and 35 year old Martin Perez, who had a stellar year, is a free agent. Reynoldo Lopez is 33 and has regressed/been injured since an AS appearance in '24. There's also talks of former ace Spencer Strider moving to a bullpen role as he can stay healthy and his production as a starter has greatly diminished. Tyler Mahle is also a free agent in '27 after a hot start to the year was ended by an injury. They have a couple young pitchers who could technically slot into the 4/5... but none are proven and Miller would be an obvious upgrade. The M's add a fringe top-100 pitching prospect in Peters who posted a 1.43 ERA over 51 innings in A ball. He would become the Braves second best pitching prospect in their organization. Rodden gives the Braves a young utility player where he can slot into many positions where they're thin. I also like this trade because I think George Kirby is due for a turnaround year and I'd rather trade Miller at this point than him. I think M's would probably want to roll with a more veteran presence in the rotation if it is win or go home from the FO.
The case for adding Acuna is listed above.
M's trade RHP Logan Evans and OF Luke Raley to the Orioles for 3B/1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
I listed this trade in my other off season plan and again, I just think it works. The Orioles outfield was atrocious in '26 and taking a cheap flier on a guy like Raley could be beneficial: their lineup needs to get more left handed and their outfield need competent bodies as they have virtually nobody worth a damn out there. Encarnacion-Strand was very good at 3B in 61 games for the Orioles last year after being DFA'd by Toronto and shipped to Baltimore. He's a solid defender who posted a 134 OPS+ in the small sample size and smashed lefties in '26. He is also blocked by about 6 infielders that the Orioles currently have on their roster who the they are more invested in. The Orioles should be desperate for young arms and Evans gives them a former top-100 prospect with many years of control to slot into their rotation.
Free Agency:
M's sign SS Mauricio Dubon to a 2-year, $14M deal.
While playing SS for the Braves in 61 games, Dubon was on pace for 4.2 bWAR over 162 games. He is a tremendous defender and has high end range at the position. Dubon also slashed .295/.330/.451/.781 as a shortstop, good for a 115 wRC+. You might expect some regression offensively as he hadn't put up an offensive year like this since playing in Houston in '23. Dubon starts at SS while Emerson splits time with Christian Encarnacion-Strand at 3B.
M's sign OF Tyrone Taylor to a 1-year $6M deal
Taylor is a bit of a journeyman who had a really nice '26 slashing .279/.325/.502/.827 with the Mets and Cubs. He absolutely mashed lefties to the tune of a .921 OPS. He was also a solid defender with the versatility to play every OF position. He serves as late-inning defensive insurance with some lightning in the bat vs lefties.
M's sign RHP Bryan Abreau to a 2-year $20M deal.
This is a fun one we haven't explored yet. Arbeau turned it around bigly in the second half of 2026 after a terrible first half. He posted a 1.71 ERA in his final 31.2 innings after allowing a 5.81 ERA over his first 31 before going on the IL for a bit. It would be sort of fun to take an Astros player and win with him eh?
M's sign RHP Carlos Estevez to a 1-year $5M deal.
The M's likely won't be in the market for a David Bednar or Adrian Morejon... but they could look at adding a guy who spend all of '26 injured to catch lightning in a bottle. Estevez pitched 0.1 innings this year after a foot injury and then shoulder injury kept him sidelined. I'd be shocked if the Royals were to pick up his club option given the injuries. When healthy, he's been dominant... posting a sub 2.45 ERA in both '24 and '25.
Lineup:
1. Brendan Donovan DH/OF/IF
2. Ronald Acuna Jr. LF
3. Dom Canzone RF
4. Julio Rodriguez CF
5. Cal Raleigh C
6. Josh Naylor 1B
7. Colt Emerson/Christian Encarnacion Strand 3B
8. Cole Young 2B
9. Mauricio Dubon SS
Bench: Tyrone Taylor OF, Laz Montes OF, Michael Arroyo OF/IF, C Johnny Pereda
Rotation:
1. Logan Gilbert
2. Bryan Woo
3. George Kirby
4. Emerson Hancock
5. Kade Anderson
Bullpen:
CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, Gabe Speier, Bryan Abreau, Carlos Estevez
ML: Eduard Bazardo, Jose Ferrer, Seranthony Dominguez
He's owed $17M the next two years on club options. The Braves will clearly pick that up and then use the cheap $$ and potential of Acuna as leverage in a trade.
Now, Acuna flies a bit in the face of what the M's say they're focusing on this off season. His attitude issues with the Braves over the last 3 years have been noted and evidenced by the recent stripping of his social media. He's been accused by some of lacking in effort defensively and his defense has taken a major hit since he was quite good in the early years of his career. He also has had a number of knee injuries that some say has diminished his range in the outfield.
But I'd ask, how often do you get the chance at adding a player whose bat fits EXACTLY what you need and he's just 29 years old at a bargain even if he returns to 75% of that form? Perhaps a change of scenery also results in a change of attitude and the defense + effort perks up because of it? Despite only putting up 1.9 bWAR in 109 games in '26, his offensive metrics are still off the chart.
2026 is pictured on the left... and he's just one year removed from a '25 season (the right) where he put up a .935 OPS with 21 homers and 3.5 bWAR over 95 games. I say you have to take a flier on this type of player... especially if you're Dipoto and need to catch some lightning in a bottle to win now.
Trades:
M's trade RHP Bryce Miller, LHP Mason Peters, and IF/OF Brock Rodden to the Braves for OF Ronald Acuna Jr.
MLBTV has both Miller and Acuna's trade value at about the same in their trade sim... and both seem light but I'd say comparable as Miller is controlled for one more season than Acuna through 2029. MLBTV is down on Acuna given the injury history and less production in '26, could say the same for Miller. The Braves need young starting pitching quite badly. Chris Sales will be 38 and 35 year old Martin Perez, who had a stellar year, is a free agent. Reynoldo Lopez is 33 and has regressed/been injured since an AS appearance in '24. There's also talks of former ace Spencer Strider moving to a bullpen role as he can stay healthy and his production as a starter has greatly diminished. Tyler Mahle is also a free agent in '27 after a hot start to the year was ended by an injury. They have a couple young pitchers who could technically slot into the 4/5... but none are proven and Miller would be an obvious upgrade. The M's add a fringe top-100 pitching prospect in Peters who posted a 1.43 ERA over 51 innings in A ball. He would become the Braves second best pitching prospect in their organization. Rodden gives the Braves a young utility player where he can slot into many positions where they're thin. I also like this trade because I think George Kirby is due for a turnaround year and I'd rather trade Miller at this point than him. I think M's would probably want to roll with a more veteran presence in the rotation if it is win or go home from the FO.
The case for adding Acuna is listed above.
M's trade RHP Logan Evans and OF Luke Raley to the Orioles for 3B/1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
I listed this trade in my other off season plan and again, I just think it works. The Orioles outfield was atrocious in '26 and taking a cheap flier on a guy like Raley could be beneficial: their lineup needs to get more left handed and their outfield need competent bodies as they have virtually nobody worth a damn out there. Encarnacion-Strand was very good at 3B in 61 games for the Orioles last year after being DFA'd by Toronto and shipped to Baltimore. He's a solid defender who posted a 134 OPS+ in the small sample size and smashed lefties in '26. He is also blocked by about 6 infielders that the Orioles currently have on their roster who the they are more invested in. The Orioles should be desperate for young arms and Evans gives them a former top-100 prospect with many years of control to slot into their rotation.
Free Agency:
M's sign SS Mauricio Dubon to a 2-year, $14M deal.
While playing SS for the Braves in 61 games, Dubon was on pace for 4.2 bWAR over 162 games. He is a tremendous defender and has high end range at the position. Dubon also slashed .295/.330/.451/.781 as a shortstop, good for a 115 wRC+. You might expect some regression offensively as he hadn't put up an offensive year like this since playing in Houston in '23. Dubon starts at SS while Emerson splits time with Christian Encarnacion-Strand at 3B.
M's sign OF Tyrone Taylor to a 1-year $6M deal
Taylor is a bit of a journeyman who had a really nice '26 slashing .279/.325/.502/.827 with the Mets and Cubs. He absolutely mashed lefties to the tune of a .921 OPS. He was also a solid defender with the versatility to play every OF position. He serves as late-inning defensive insurance with some lightning in the bat vs lefties.
M's sign RHP Bryan Abreau to a 2-year $20M deal.
This is a fun one we haven't explored yet. Arbeau turned it around bigly in the second half of 2026 after a terrible first half. He posted a 1.71 ERA in his final 31.2 innings after allowing a 5.81 ERA over his first 31 before going on the IL for a bit. It would be sort of fun to take an Astros player and win with him eh?
M's sign RHP Carlos Estevez to a 1-year $5M deal.
The M's likely won't be in the market for a David Bednar or Adrian Morejon... but they could look at adding a guy who spend all of '26 injured to catch lightning in a bottle. Estevez pitched 0.1 innings this year after a foot injury and then shoulder injury kept him sidelined. I'd be shocked if the Royals were to pick up his club option given the injuries. When healthy, he's been dominant... posting a sub 2.45 ERA in both '24 and '25.
Lineup:
1. Brendan Donovan DH/OF/IF
2. Ronald Acuna Jr. LF
3. Dom Canzone RF
4. Julio Rodriguez CF
5. Cal Raleigh C
6. Josh Naylor 1B
7. Colt Emerson/Christian Encarnacion Strand 3B
8. Cole Young 2B
9. Mauricio Dubon SS
Bench: Tyrone Taylor OF, Laz Montes OF, Michael Arroyo OF/IF, C Johnny Pereda
Rotation:
1. Logan Gilbert
2. Bryan Woo
3. George Kirby
4. Emerson Hancock
5. Kade Anderson
Bullpen:
CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Matt Brash, Gabe Speier, Bryan Abreau, Carlos Estevez
ML: Eduard Bazardo, Jose Ferrer, Seranthony Dominguez