Acuna Matata: Braves Have No Worries in New Pact with Star
News just broke that the Braves have inked a deal with their star 21-year-old left fielder, Ronald Acuna Jr. that could keep their young Venezualan in Atlanta for the next decade. It’s time for Braves fans to celebrate (potentially even buying one of our Acuna Matata t-shirts).
The deal, which guarantees Acuna something like $100M is seen as extremely team friendly. In much the same way that the Eloy Jimenez deal was a manifestation of the service time manipulation game, so too, is this one. While Braves fans were pleasantly surprised by Preston Tucker at this time last year, Acuna was hitting homers in AAA, earning the Braves another year of service time (and salary) control. While the Braves did not immediately lock up Acuna – they waited until after he earned himself a Rookie of the Year – they will continue to reap the benefits for the next decade.
By waiting, the Braves have effectively invested in a product who is more than a concept; he’s a proven commodity. The Braves get a marketable star to sustain their competition window without running the risk that the Major League stage overwhelms the young player.
By signing the deal now, Acuna gets to stay in Atlanta. He gets to play with his friends and he gets something like $100M guaranteed. For a young man from Venezuela, that sets him up for life. For anyone really, that sets you up for life.
But still, this is the type of deal that teams dream about. Acuna will be 31 by the time this deal will be over. I will be… older by the time this deal will be over. This sets the Braves up with a cornerstone, not unlike what the Phillies just did with Bryce Harper, but for roughly $220M less. It also keeps the Braves from losing Acuna like the Nationals just lost Harper. It also keeps any other team from signing Acuna. He’s basically the Braves forever now and if he keeps making changes to get better like he did with his swing last year, this deal could look all that much better in hindsight in 2029.
-Sean Morash
