Polarizing Yankees Veteran Drops Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr Trade Surprise, ‘He Wants Out’

The New York Yankees face another pivotal offseason after suffering a disappointing postseason exit, leaving the organization searching for answers as it tries to build a championship roster around franchise slugger Aaron Judge.

While the front office has several needs to address, the possibility of adding another superstar to the team could offer an especially intriguing solution to the team’s offensive questions. Though it won’t be easy to pull that off.

“Do they get creative on the trade market with them and their prospects? Or do they trade peanuts for some team’s bad contract and hope they snag a player who is re-energized in the Bronx?” SNY’s Anthony McCarron asked in response to questions about how the Yankees can add another star to the roster. “They’d better do something, especially with a lineup that flagged during the season and then produced, well, that October.”

The Yankees’ potential search for a major upgrade might face some obstacles, but it has already produced a surprising potential target: Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr.

New York Yankees’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Trade Rumors Emerge After Atlanta Braves Exit

Acuna found himself at the center of trade speculation when a former Yankees outfielder dropped a surprising claim about the outfielder’s desires on social media.

Cameron Maybin, who played for the Yankees in 2019 amid a 15-year big league career, suggested that New York move on from Giancarlo Stanton, shift Judge into a more flexible role to help keep him healthy and pursue Acuna.

“Do the Yankees move in from my guy big G this offseason, and move Aaron Judge to primary DH/RF to keep him healthy and go after Ronald Acuña Jr.?” Maybin wondered on X. “I still believe… and I’ll die on this Hill some players need the pinstripes to bring out the best in them.”

When another user questioned whether the Braves would really part with their own superstar slugger, Maybin responded with the suggestion that he had some insider’s knowledge about Acuna’s wishes.

“Apparently he wants out,” Maybin wrote.

Atlanta Braves Face Ronald Acuna Jr. Questions After New York Yankees Trade Idea

Though Maybin did not offer any additional insight into that claim, and he is frequently a polarizing figure on social media, there was at least one reason for outside observers to believe Acuna was seeking an exit from the Braves. Shortly after a playoff series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Acuna scrubbed his Instagram account of team-related content.

And he would represent a major addition for New York. The Braves would have significant reasons to think carefully before moving one of their most recognizable players, while the Yankees would need to determine what kind of package could make such a trade possible.

For now, Maybin’s comments have introduced an eye-catching possibility into an offseason in which the Yankees are under pressure to make meaningful changes. Whether Acuna is genuinely available remains unclear, but the idea of pairing him with Judge gives New York an intriguing hypothetical to consider as it searches for a way back to the World Series.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com