JUST-IN: From World Series Hero to Trade Bait? Braves Fans in Panic Over Braves Reportedly Considering Trading Ronald Acuña Jr.

The Atlanta Braves’ already rough season took another downturn on Sunday after they were swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles, dropping them to 11 games under .500 for the first time since 2017, according to 92.9 The Game. Grant McAuley summed up the situation bluntly on X (formerly Twitter): “They’re sinking like a stone with no signs of a course correction in sight.”

This kind of collapse is unfamiliar territory for Braves fans. Atlanta has now lost eight of their last 10 games, including four straight, and they hold a miserable 15-28 record on the road. With a 39-50 overall mark, they’ve fallen far behind in the NL East race. Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Baltimore highlighted the ongoing issue—a lack of offense.

The lineup has consistently struggled, particularly in the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr., who’s missed significant time due to injury and has only managed 46 hits this season. Without his spark, the offense has sputtered.

With the MLB trade deadline looming, the Braves are exploring potential roster changes. Surprisingly, even Acuña’s name has surfaced in trade rumors, with the Boston Red Sox mentioned as a possible landing spot.

Still, Acuña has made it clear where his heart is.

“Outside of Venezuela, Atlanta is my second home,” Acuña told The Athletic. “I love being here. I want to stay here for the rest of my career. I’m comfortable. I know everyone. It would be a dream to remain a Brave.”

• Ronald Acuña Jr

The idea of losing Acuña—who’s still batting .331 with nine home runs despite the missed time—would be a tough pill for Braves fans to swallow. Since debuting in 2018, he’s become a franchise cornerstone and was instrumental in Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run.

So far, the front office appears committed to keeping Acuña, but as the trade deadline nears, nothing is off the table.

The Braves will look to rebound when they begin a road series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.