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Atlanta Braves: Could Ronald Acuna Eventually Get Mike Trout-Like Contract?

By Jake Mastroianni

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 18, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels stands in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 18, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 20: Newly redesigned $100 notes lay in stacks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The one hundred dollar bills will be released this fall and has new security features, such as a duplicating portrait of Benjamin Franklin and microprinting added to make the bill more difficult to counterfeit. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 20: Newly redesigned $100 notes lay in stacks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The one hundred dollar bills will be released this fall and has new security features, such as a duplicating portrait of Benjamin Franklin and microprinting added to make the bill more difficult to counterfeit. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) /

Will the Braves Make Acuna a Lifer?

Let’s say Ronald Acuna puts up the numbers we talked about. That’s doesn’t necessarily mean the Atlanta Braves would be willing to give him a Mike Trout-like contract.

I wouldn’t consider Anaheim a large-market team. One of the biggest knocks Trout has gotten since signing this deal is that is OK with hiding out in Anaheim and not getting the media attention.

But the Angels do spend like a big market team. They are annually near the top in terms of team payroll.

That has not been the case for the Atlanta Braves for quite some time. In fact, we’re in the middle of an offseason where the front office has taken a lot of criticism for not spending after we were told the payroll would increase.

Plus, you have to take into account how crippling a deal like that can be. You would think the Angels would know better since they are currently hamstrung by a terrible Albert Pujols contract.

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The only difference is, they are giving this deal to Trout at 27-years-old. You have to figure he’ll play at an MVP level for at least five more seasons.

And then he’ll probably have three seasons where he’ll be a good but not great player. After that you just hope he can be a major league average player.

Meanwhile, you can’t do much else because your payroll is stretched thin.

As much as it pains me, I don’t think the Atlanta Braves would ever give Acuna — or anyone — this kind of deal.

What is more likely is that the Atlanta Braves give Acuna a contract similar to the first one the Angels gave Trout, which was six years and $144.5 million.

Trout got that after his third season, and I think that’s when we really see this type of talk pick up for Acuna.

Next. A New Path to Signing Kimbrel or Keuchel. dark

While it sounds great and I would love for Acuna to be a Brave for life, I don’t see him missing out on free agency. And I certainly don’t see the Atlanta Braves giving him a  mega deal like Trout got from the Angels.

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