Yesterday on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden suggested the Atlanta Braves sign Ronald Acuña Jr. to a 10-year $500 million-dollar contract extension right now and not wait for him to possibly have another MVP season this year and up his value.
Earlier today, The Morning Shift reacted to what Bowden had to say, talked about how doing what he’s suggested would go against Atlanta’s business model when it comes to resigning players, but explained why they agree with Jim and think the Braves must go against their business model to keep Ronald Acuña Jr. if necessary.
“If you wait until Ronald Acuña proves that he’s fully healthy for an extended period of time it’s going to cost you hundreds of millions of dollars.” Mike Johnson said
Mike finished his thought by saying “He is an incredible, top five player in baseball when he is healthy, and I think when you look at the ability to make a guy like him an Atlanta Brave for life, I that know we shy away from that with the Julio Jones stuff and the Atlanta Falcons stuff, but it’s different in baseball, I think you have to jump at the opportunity.”
Ronald Acuña Jr. is entering the final guaranteed year of the eight-year, $100 million-dollar contract extension he signed with Atlanta back in 2019. The Braves do hold club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, valued at $17 million each, but if the 2023 NL MVP ends up winning or just having one or multiple MVP type seasons between now and when his contract expires and the Braves haven’t already extended him they could end up paying a ridiculous amount of money to keep their superstar and really have to go against their business model even more, or worse, lose him and watch him sign with another team.
This fanbase has already been through losing franchise cornerstones to free agency like Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson in recent years, and it would not be a terrible look for Liberty Media, Alex Anthopoulos, and the entire Braves organization if the Braves lost another star player to free agency because of their self imposed salary cap.