Just like that, the hottest take of the MLB season may have arrived. Joel Sherman—veteran analyst, long-time baseball insider—tossed a match on the Atlanta Braves’ current state of affairs and asked the question that would’ve been unthinkable just a year ago: should the Braves trade Ronald Acuña Jr.?
The Window is Cracking For the Braves
The Braves are sitting at 39-46, seven games under .500 and well outside the playoff picture. For a franchise that’s ruled the NL East like clockwork and rode a golden era of talent to a World Series title, this season has been a head-scratcher—and a momentum killer.
Sherman’s logic? If you can’t see a championship path in the next two or three years, then why keep your biggest trade chip when his value is still sky-high? He pointed to a farm system that has been thinned out, a pitching staff with aging stars like Chris Sale, and key pieces like Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II, who have regressed in 2025. His bottom line: “You don’t have the depth. The window’s not wide open anymore.”
And the most controversial part? He emphasized that the Braves won their World Series without Acuña, who was out with injury in 2021. This year, Atlanta’s record without Acuña? Better than with him. In other words, Sherman’s not saying Acuña isn’t a superstar—he’s asking if this is the last moment Atlanta can cash in for a Soto-sized haul and start building the next great Braves team.
A Trade With Seattle? The Case for a Blockbuster
If you’re going to float a nuclear-level move like this, you better have a landing spot—and Sherman does: the Seattle Mariners.
The fit is clear. Seattle’s right field production? Worst in baseball. Their postseason history? One trip since 2001, zero World Series appearances, and a desperate need for a franchise face who can carry the team into October and beyond. They also have what Atlanta would demand in return: nine Top 100 prospects according to Baseball America, many of whom are middle infielders—an area of need for the Braves’ future depth.
Could the Mariners package names like Colt Emerson, Harry Ford, Cole Young, or Felnin Celesten into a Soto-style megadeal? They’d have to. Acuña is under club control through 2028 on a team-friendly deal, and he’s still just 26. These opportunities don’t come around often.
Acuña’s Numbers Say “Superstar”
Acuña isn’t limping through the season, MLB even shouted him out on his return performance. Since returning from injury on May 23, he’s been nothing short of phenomenal: a .346 average, 9 home runs, 18 RBIs in just 36 games. That production, on top of his elite athleticism and energy, earned him yet another All-Star Game nod—this time as a starting outfielder in front of his home crowd in Atlanta on July 15.
Manager Brian Snitker called it a show in the making, and Acuña himself seemed genuinely moved by the fan support. “They’re really the ones who made this dream come true,” he said. It’s hard to overstate just how important he’s been—not just on the field, but as the Braves’ identity and heartbeat.
Now let’s be clear, there is no credible report that the Braves are shopping Acuña. This is speculation, not a breaking headline. But in a season full of frustration, regression, and big contracts with long tails, it’s not outrageous to imagine Atlanta exploring bold options if they see a reset as necessary.
Acuña being traded would rock the sport. But as Sherman said, “Do we want to try to take another seven-year run?” If that’s the goal—and the Braves front office believes the current core isn’t built for it—then no player is off the table. Unlikely? Yes. Impossible? Maybe not anymore.
