If you’re a knowledgeable baseball fan, you know that the Braves are getting Acuna on a major bargain. Atlanta is notorious for handing out team-friendly deals. They currently have seven players, including Acuna, who will be in Braves uniforms through at least 2028 and who are on either six, seven, eight, or 10-year deals. Austin Riley owns the longest and most lucrative deal at 10 years, $212 million with an average salary of $21.2 million per season.
“You know what the scary part is? He’s at an age where he’s gonna get better,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told Bally Sports South reporters on Friday.
And the Braves were well aware of that when they signed him to an extension back in 2019 when he was just 21. He’s now 26, just beginning to get into the prime years of his career, coming off the best year of his career statistically — and yet, he can get better?
Like when he’s in the batter’s box, Acuna is trying to get ahead of the curve — ironically how Atlanta did with his 2019 deal — giving the Braves ample time to work on an extension if that is indeed what they should choose to do. Acuna, and the Braves, will both be keeping their eyes peeled on recently acquired New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto and what kind of deal he earns/demands when he enters free agency after next season.
We know from history that the Yankees will pay; the Braves, however, will not. Acuna has had to watch two of his teammates join other teams over the past two years in first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Dansby Swanson, both of whom were believed to be Braves lifers, like Acuna wants to be.
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