The Atlanta Braves have plenty of legendary figures in the pantheon of baseball history, so when they speak, we'd be wise to listen. During the All-Star break, a who's who of influential Braves immortals spoke on Ronald Acuña Jr., and what they said should put the Braves front office on notice.
If this season has taught us anything, it's how much the Braves need Acuña, who didn't make his season debut until May 23 while recovering from the second ACL tear of his career. His .323/.435/.590 would be the best mark of his career should it hold through the second half, and while it hasn't been enough to bring Atlanta out of the doldrums they've been mired in this season, it certainly speaks to the superstar's talent.
That's in part what prompted several of the greatest players in Braves history to begin making the case that Acuña is the most talented player in the franchise's storied history. Chipper Jones laid out the case for Acuña beautifully, saying the following ahead of the All-Star festivities:
"I think the proof is in the numbers. We’ve had guys that could hit 40 homers in a season. We’ve had guys capable of stealing 70-plus bags in a season. We’ve had guys capable of winning Gold Gloves in the outfield. We have had guys capable of hitting .300. We’ve had guys with cannons for arms. But I just don’t think we’ve ever had one guy have all of that, other than Ronald."Chipper Jones via MLB.com
With that ringing endorsement, it should be clear to all that the Braves must do everything in their power to keep the 27-year-old star in Atlanta for many years to come.
Braves legends make a compelling case to extend Robert Acuña Jr. and keep him in Atlanta for life
While some have suggested trading Acuña amidst the Braves' difficult season, making such a move would be incredibly short-sighted. A more moderate approach of selling off assets that don't have a long-term future with the team, while retaining foundational pieces, makes much more sense.
To that end, rather than showing Acuña the door, Atlanta should start getting to work on an extension for the star with haste. While he has one more year and two club options left on his deal from the genius gamble the Braves took locking him up long-term with an early extension back in 2019, it's time to start thinking about locking him up again and making him a Brave for life.
Sure, his injury history is a bit concerning, but when he's healthy, there might not be a player in the league who is more dynamic. Acuña is the only member of the 40-70 club in MLB history. His defensive prowess, on-base, and contact skills put him among the game's very best. In every sense of the word, he's a five-tool player.
And, if you believe what some Braves' legends have to say, he might become the greatest player in franchise history. Atlanta can't take a chance on letting him walk and forgoing the chance of him fulfilling his potential as the eventual greatest player in Braves' history.