Top prospect Ronald Acuna has declined a $30 million offer from the Atlanta Braves, according to a media report. The outfielder is expected to start the season in the Minor Leagues.
As ESPN Deportes reports, the contract offered is said to have been in the range of five to six years. MLB.com in turn reported on Tuesday that Acuna and the Braves had had “informal discussions” about a long-term contract. According to the official league website, Acuna’s family had expressed interest in the long-term financial security of a long-term contract.
Without this extra time Acuna will start the season as expected for Triple-A Gwinnett and will not join the Major League squad until mid-April at the earliest. This gives the braves an extra year of team control for the best prospect in baseball for many.
It is not known whether Acuna refused the extension before or after the transfer to the Minor Leagues.
“It’s just not the time,” Acuna told reporters on Tuesday. Baseball is a business and I understand that. “There are some things that play into that decision.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Phillies, who had tied their top prospect Scott Kingery to them for the long term with a six-year contract worth 24 million dollars before he had even played one MLB game, showed that things could be different.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.