Athletics’ Brent Rooker possible trade target with Braves, Jon Morosi suggests – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

The Atlanta Braves are in familiar territory after losing outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to the second season-ending ACL tear of his seven-year MLB career.

Now without the NL MVP in 2023, the 30-21 Braves could be interested in the Athletics’ lone AL All-Star from last season.

On Tuesday, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi cited Oakland outfielder/designated hitter Brent Rooker as a potential replacement for Acuña Jr.

“Here are some names of guys they might forget later: Brent Rooker, Tommy Pham, Taylor Ward,” Morosi said. “These are all players that I expect to be available to varying degrees as we head into the trade deadline – which is now basically two months away.”

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“Although I’m told they’re going to stay in-house for now…I would expect an outfielder to come to Atlanta at some point.”@jonmorosi on how the Braves will approach Ronald Acuña Jr.’s injury and some outfielders they expect to be available at the trade deadline ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cfFwFiE1NP

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 28, 2024

Rooker is having a productive 2024 MLB season for the 22-33 A’s, slashing .286/.368/.565 with 44 hits, 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 42 games. He had 30 home runs and 69 RBI a year ago.

The 29-year-old is being paid just $750,000 this season, per Spotrac , and would at least be someone of interest if Atlanta calls Oakland.

Still, Morosi is adamant that no one can replace Acuña Jr. after his previous campaign. Remarkably, the right-handed hitter slashed .250/.351/.365 with 48 hits and 15 RBI before his current season ended.

“There’s no way to replace Ronald Acuña Jr. with one player or maybe even two players because it’s just not the right field play, it’s the opening play (and) the 40-yard-70-yard play stolen bases. since a year ago”, emphasized Morosi.

Atlanta, of course, isn’t thrilled to endure another run without Acuña Jr. But when they lost the four-time NL All-Star in 2021, the Braves responded by winning the World Series.

Morosi concluded by saying Atlanta will look for internal options to replace the 26-year-old franchise cornerstone, but made it clear the Braves are exploring all avenues.

“So the point I want to make globally is that the Braves lost Acuña in 2021, right before the MLB All-Star Game (2021), acquired four players in the next two weeks and won the Series World”, concluded Morosi. “While I’m told they’ll stay in-house for now, I would expect an outfielder to arrive in Atlanta, Georgia at some point.”

Keep an eye on Rooker and the Braves as the July 30 MLB trade deadline approaches.