The future of the Atlanta Braves is closely tied to the core they have worked so hard to keep together over the years. However, over the next few seasons, the organization will have some important contract decisions to make.
Last week, two major contract decisions were made regarding Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. The Braves exercised both players’ team options for the 2027 season.
“The Braves today exercised options for OF Ronald Acuña Jr. and INF Ozzie Albies for the 2027 season,” the Braves posted.
Albies’ future in Atlanta still isn’t completely secure, as the Braves could very well explore a move involving him. The team’s offense struggled down the stretch of the 2026 season, and Albies has been more serviceable than exceptional over the last couple of seasons.
“This will be the final season of the $35MM extension that Albies signed early in his career. Atlanta has tacked on $10MM by picking up two club options along the way — a $4MM buyout on his first option was already factored into that $35MM guarantee — so he made a total of $45MM over a nine-year stretch. Albies handily outperformed those salaries, though he’s been more serviceable than great going back to the start of the 2024 season,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa believes Atlanta could actually trade Albies this season, potentially ending the second baseman’s long tenure with the organization.
“On the other hand, can they really run it back with the same offense that flatlined after June 1 and in the NLDS? It might be time to shake things up a bit, and I boldly predict it will happen. Does that make this bold prediction a “the Braves will trade Albies” prediction? Yeah, I guess it does. It feels like things are getting a little stale in Atlanta and it’s time to change up a core,” Axisa wrote.
If the Braves do trade Albies, they better have a backup option capable of handling an everyday role. While the second baseman may not have the best numbers, there is still a level of trust in knowing he will be available whenever possible.
Albies is in the final year of his $35 million deal with the Braves. It will be interesting to see how his time in Atlanta comes to an end, if it does. He could walk in free agency next winter or be traded before he gets the chance.
More MLB news:
