Overview
- Since returning from his second ACL tear in May, Ronald Acuña Jr. has batted .350 with a 1.076 OPS, nine home runs and 18 RBIs over 35 games.
- Atlanta has fallen to a 39–46 record and is all but eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2017.
- General manager Alex Anthopoulos has declared the club will not trade its superstar outfielder at the July 31 deadline.
- Analysts Carlos Peña and Joel Sherman publicly urged the Braves to pursue a Juan Soto–style blockbuster, naming the Mariners—with nine top-100 prospects—as a prime trade partner.
- Despite mounting trade chatter, Acuña reiterated his desire to spend his entire career in Atlanta under a team-friendly deal that runs through 2028 with club options.