Braves predicted to part ways with $23M veteran stuck in 'slog' amid Ronald Acuna Jr. return

Braves predicted to part ways with $23M veteran stuck in ‘slog’ amid Ronald Acuna Jr. return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves have slowly started getting healthier at this point in the season, but every time one player returns, another seems to suffer an unfortunate injury. Ha-Seong Kim is set to return on Tuesday, while Eli White was placed on the seven-day injured list.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to return at some point this week, potentially as early as Wednesday. There is growing optimism that it could happen as early as Wednesday.

“Acuña coming off the IL when eligible on Wednesday seems optimistic. When asked, Weiss said Ronald still has some boxes to check. That being said, the fact he was doing some agility work today indicates his IL stint shouldn’t be too long,” Braves writer Mark Bowman wrote.

When Acuña returns to the roster, someone will likely lose their spot. One possible candidate is veteran Mike Yastrzemski.

“Of the names on this list, Mike Yastrzemski is the least likely for the Braves to cut bait with, given the fact that he signed a two-year, $23 million deal over the offseason. But with how much of a slog it’s been for him to date, they ought to consider doing something. Acuña should be back soon, and Yastrzemski should be the one he’s replacing in the lineup. Knowing that guys like Dubon, White and even Jorge Mateo can provide depth, it’s easier to move on from Yastrzemski than the Braves might be willing to admit to,” FanSided’s Zachary Rotman wrote.

Yastrzemski’s numbers this season have fallen well short of expectations. This is not the level of production Atlanta envisioned when they signed him, and he has not provided the offensive boost the club hoped for.

Through the early stretch of the 2026 season, Yastrzemski is hitting .219 with no home runs, one stolen base, and a .593 OPS. On the surface, those numbers are already underwhelming. The deeper Statcast profile makes it even harder to dismiss the struggles as simple bad luck.

“This is not a hitter getting robbed by variance. This is a hitter whose contact quality and swing decisions have both slipped,” Heavy.com’s Alvin Garcia wrote.

Atlanta will have a difficult roster decision to make once Acuña returns. While moving on from a veteran player is never an easy choice, it may become a necessary one. Yastrzemski was viewed as an exciting addition when he signed, but much of that excitement has faded.

Having tough roster decisions is usually a positive problem for contenders, but this situation feels relatively straightforward. If a move does not happen immediately when Acuña returns, it could still become inevitable if Yastrzemski’s struggles continue.

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