I questioned the long-term plan when the Braves decided to pass on Freddie Freeman and trade for Matt Olson instead. Freeman would have cost no prospects, and they could have locked him up for six years. Meanwhile, Olson was under contract for only two years before the trade. It looked like the Braves could be doing this same song and dance a couple of years from now. However, the message is clear now after Olson quickly agreed to an eight-year extension, keeping him in Atlanta through 2029 at a more than manageable $21 million AAV.
It’s another example of wizardry from GM Alex Anthopoulos, who somehow finds a way to get the most value of every contract he hands out. Because of that, the Braves are in an unbelievable position to compete for championships throughout the rest of the decade; just look at all the high-quality young talent they have locked up for several years.
Braves signed or under team control long-term
1B Matt Olson – Through 2029 (+ team option)
2B Ozzie Albies – 2025 (+ team option)
3B Austin Riley – 2025
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. – 2026 (+ team option)
LHP Max Fried – 2024
RHP Mike Soroka – 2024
RHP Ian Anderson – 2026— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) March 15, 2022
Olson’s team option is up in the air. Who knows what type of player he will be after eight seasons. However, Albies and Acuña’s are so cheap that they’ll surely be in Atlanta through 2027 and 2028, respectively.
For Alex Anthopoulos, the difficult part is done. He has one of the best cores in baseball locked up for the foreseeable future. Now, it’s all about filling in the team around them. So far, during his career as general manager, there hasn’t been anyone better. Whether it’s been one-year pillow contracts, long-term deals, or diamonds in the rough, Anthopoulos has shown he knows how to make most of the limited budget handed down from Liberty Media.
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