After some doubt, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the “no-brainer” decision to retain the All-Star second baseman, whose $4M buyout made the move a net $3M commitment.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have had several important decisions to make this offseason, and the two biggest dominoes have now fallen.
The first major move happened this week, as the Braves hired former bench coach Walt Weiss to be their new manager, replacing the retiring Brian Snitker. Weiss will reportedly manage the team for at least the next three seasons.
The second key question heading into the winter was what the Braves would do about Ozzie Albies. On Tuesday, the team provided a definitive answer.
President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed in a radio appearance on 92.9 The Game that the Braves are picking up Albies’ $7 million club option for the 2026 season.
The move was widely expected due to the contract’s structure. As HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote, “his $7 million club option comes with a $4 million buyout, meaning Ozzie is almost certainly returning.” The decision to keep Albies cost the team only an additional $3 million in payroll.
Albies’ return was considered a “big question mark” coming into the offseason, largely due to non-committal comments from Anthopoulos during the regular season.
“With all these options (on players), we always make the decision at the end of the year… things can happen, things change. You always wait,” Anthopoulos said at the time.
With the decision now official, it is certain that Albies will return for at least one more season. The move secures a fan-favorite and one of the few second basemen in the league who can hit from both sides of the plate and play strong defense.
Albies, the team’s longest-tenured player, has been very clear that he wants to spend his entire career in Atlanta. For at least one more season, that hope lives on.
