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The Atlanta Braves are off to a rough start after dominating the National League for half a decade.
With a 14-18 record and sitting just one-game above last place in the National League East division, it isn’t too early to fear the team will see its seven-year playoff streak come to an end, particularly as the latest news on their franchise slugger has been far from encouraging.
Ronald Acuña Jr. has been trying to work his way back from a torn ACL, and MLB.com’s Mark Bowman recently reported that he’s still weeks away from beginning a rehab stint. That update struck a blow to hopes that the Braves would be able to turn their season around behind his healthy return in short order.
“It’s extremely disappointing to hear that Acuña may not return in the next couple of weeks,” as Steven Teal put it for FanSided. “Seems like it could end up being the end of May or the beginning of June before fans see him on the field with the Braves.”
However, if the front office is determined to inject some life into the franchise before then, there could be a solution.
“Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert finally started to hit (.346 with three homers, eight RBI and six stolen bases) this past week,” Bob Nightengale wrote for USA Today. “If (that) continues, the White Sox hope to have him traded by Memorial Day.”
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Robert has been a tantalizing trade chip as the White Sox have entered a prolonged rebuild, though his inconsistent production has hampered his value. If the Braves believe his current hot streak is sustainable, though, he could be an outfield solution as they await a return from Acuña.
Robert is in the final year of a six-year, $50 million contract and has a $20 million club option in both 2026 and 2027. So, if the Braves are able to land him, they’d have some flexibility in the duration of his stay.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)