Braves predicted to trade Ronald Acuna Jr. for Phillies’ $330M two-time MVP in monster deal

Braves predicted to trade Ronald Acuna Jr. for Phillies’ $330M two-time MVP in monster deal originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Atlanta Braves are entering another crucial offseason after it became clear that their starting rotation wasn’t deep enough when it came time for the postseason. The starting pitchers were great, but having to rely on a bullpen game every third game shouldn’t be the norm in the playoffs.

Now, the Braves have several important decisions to make that could shape the future of the organization. One of those decisions was whether to bring Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. back. On Friday, Atlanta announced that both players would return for the 2027 season.

“The Braves today exercised options for OF Ronald Acuña Jr. and INF Ozzie Albies for the 2027 season,” the Braves posted.

However, that doesn’t mean Acuña is entirely off the trade market. His lack of production as a former MVP has disappointed fans and raised questions about whether Atlanta could move him. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer believes the Braves could trade Acuña for Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper in a blockbuster deal.

“Anyway, the rationale starts here: Bryce Harper should probably move on from Philadelphia, and Ronald Acuña Jr. should probably do the same from Atlanta. Things for both players in both places have gotten…weird. So, why not swap the two players? The obvious answer is “Because they’re NL East rivals, you fool,” and that is fair. Even so, the shoe fits on both ends. The Phillies need youth and a right-handed bat, and the Braves need more present upside than Acuña has shown over the last two years,” Rymer wrote.

Harper is starting to feel the pressure as he continues to chase a World Series title in Philadelphia. The two-time MVP did mention that the roster could look different in 2027.

“I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year,” Harper said.

This would be one of the wildest trades in MLB history, as division rivals rarely trade superstars with each other. However, it is a move that could potentially benefit both teams.

The biggest obstacle is Harper’s $330 million contract with the Phillies. Atlanta typically isn’t eager to take on massive contracts, but for a blockbuster swap like this, the potential payoff might make it worth considering.

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