Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall remaining a free agent this deep into the season really doesn't come as a surprise.
Coming off one of his worst seasons, Duval decided it would be wise to make contract demands this past offseason. If a team was unwilling to hand the slugger $3 million guaranteed, he made it clear he was happy to remain at home. This was always an odd path to take for a veteran coming off a season hitting .182 in a talented lineup. It was yet another example of a failed attempt at a reunion with the World Series hero.
It is important to note that Duvall's contributions to the 2021 roster will always be remembered fondly.
Duvall, Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, and Jorge Soler all needed to have the best moments of their respective careers to cover up the loss of Atlanta's best player and fuel a World Series run. That is exactly what happened, and Duvall is immortalized because of it. However, there is no denying that every reunion with the veteran since then has ended in frustration. He simply couldn't find his way back to match the high expectations he had previously established.
Former Braves' OF Adam Duvall Remains a Free Agent in July
At this point, it would be a bit surprising if Duvall doesn't settle for a lesser deal or choose to retire. He wouldn't be the first former Brave to retire this season, with Whitt Merrifield and Kevin Pillar both deciding to hang it up in the 2025 season. This seems the most likely path for a veteran whose best years are far behind him.
According to Spotrac, Duvall has made $30.8 million in a career that will be defined by the outfielder's impressive power numbers and his contributions to the aforementioned World Series run. As great as the outfielder has been, it is clear the Braves made the right decision refusing to attempt yet another reunion. Duvall's asking price isn't reasonable at this stage of his career, and there isn't any reason to believe that a reunion will end any differently this season.
If the veteran has any regrets about ending his career, now is the time to attempt to remedy this. Signing with a fringe contender as attempted bench depth appears to be the veteran's only remaining path. Settling for a minor league deal is going to be Duvall's path if the outfielder has any regrets about the self-imposed free agency that has continued deep into the 2025 season.