The Atlanta Braves are one of the most talented teams in the league and they’re only going to get better. The team is still missing superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace Spencer Strider. When these two return and the Braves are at full strength, they could win it all.
But some people around baseball expect the Braves to make some big moves within the next year.
FanSided’s Austin Owens recently predicted the Braves would cut ties with 25-year-old outfielder Jarred Kelenic before next season. Kelenic still has three years of arbitration left on his deal. Spotrac projects him to sign a seven-year deal worth $91 million, likely buying out his remaining years of arbitration.
“Atlanta and Kelenic were able to avoid arbitration by coming to terms on a one-year, $2.3 million deal,” Owens wrote. “With the addition of Jurickson Profar this offseason and Acuña’s return looming, Kelenic will be the odd man out on Brian Snitker’s outfield depth chart.
“While he has the potential to add value to the team coming off the bench, Kelenic would prefer to play every day and at this point just doesn’t seem like a good fit for the Braves. His situation is very similar to Elder’s in the sense that a trade at the deadline is not unrealistic but could be on the free-agent market heading into 2026.”
Unless Atlanta moves Kelenic in a huge trade to bring in another star, this idea doesn’t make any sense. The Braves would be very foolish to let him walk for nothing.
While he hasn’t been a superstar with the Braves, he’s looked solid at times. His 2023 season with the Seattle Mariners was a very good season and he’s just 25 years old. Letting him walk for nothing would be foolish for the Braves.
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