With Ronald Acuña Jr. down for the season, the Braves now have an unexpected predicament when it comes to their outfield. For now, the expectation is that they’ll roll with their internal options, primarily Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall. They don’t have much of a choice, because there aren’t a ton of teams eager to sell this far away from the trade deadline. However, that’ll change over the next couple of months, and MLB insider Jon Morosi believes the Braves will aggressively pursue an outfielder at some point.
"While I am told for now they are going to stay internal… I would expect at some point in time, an outfielder will arrive to Atlanta."@jonmorosi on how the Braves will address Ronald Acuña Jr.'s injury and a few outfielders he expects to be available at the trade deadline ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cfFwFiE1NP
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 28, 2024
I wholeheartedly agree with Morosi’s sentiment. There’s a chance Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall play splendidly as everyday options, but even if that happens, I still expect the Braves to add in case of emergency.
I would even say it is reasonable to expect the Braves to make a move for multiple outfielders prior to the trade deadline, much like they did in 2021 when Ronald Acuña Jr. went down for the season, acquiring Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and Adam Duvall. As we’ve seen early this year, injuries can completely change the outlook of the season, so it’s best to prepare accordingly, because nothing can be done after the trade deadline.
Beyond that, Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall have been very streaky hitters over the course of their careers. They are best served as platoon options that can be used in advantageous matchups, not everyday players. I thought there was a good chance the Braves added to their outfield prior to the Ronald Acuña Jr injury. Now, it’s a must, and given outfielders generally don’t cost a ton at the trade deadline, expect them to overkill the issue.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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