Braves have .586 OPS outfield problem that may require trade deadline fix

The Atlanta Braves have the best record in baseball, but could still use more production from some of their position players. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. cannot provide all of the offense from the outfield unit when he returns from the injured list. 

That's why Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller called out corner outfielder Mike Yastrzemski as someone who needs to get hot at the plate. 

"Yastrzemski entered 2026 with a career OPS of .772, but he isn't even within 200 points of that mark right now, even after finally hitting his first home run on Tuesday," Miller wrote Thursday. "They signed him to a two-year, $23M deal, and it's not like Jurickson Profar will be walking through that door any time soon. He will presumably continue getting consistent corner outfield work, at least until the trade deadline." 

Yastrzemski had a great spring training, but it has not carried over to the regular season.  

The 35-year-old veteran averages 23 home runs per 162 games for his career, but has, as Miller noted, only hit one thus far with the Braves. 

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Atlanta likely has more pressing issues than worrying about Yastrzemski's lack of production. At the moment, their top priority should be making sure frontline starters Chris Sale and Bryce Elder stay healthy. 

But if Yastrzemski's struggles continue, they could target a corner outfielder at the trade deadline in a couple of months. 

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