ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Braves have made the easiest and perhaps most emotionally significant move of their offseason, officially picking up the club option for three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies. The decision, confirmed by President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos on 92.9 The Game, ensures that the team’s spark plug and emotional core will remain in Atlanta through at least the 2026 season.
Despite Albies coming off a difficult 2025 season marked by injury and uneven production, Anthopoulos called him a “core” member of the franchise and praised him as one of his “favorite Braves as a human being.” The move is one part business bargain and one part loyalty.
The Contract: Still One of Baseball’s Greatest Bargains
The financial terms of the option made the decision a no-brainer for the Braves, despite Albies’ career-low offensive numbers in 2025 (he finished with a $.240$ AVG, 16 HR, and a disappointing 87 wRC+).
- 2026 Salary: The Braves exercised the $7 million club option for the 2026 season.
- The Cost-Benefit: The option included a $4 million buyout, meaning the team is only paying a net difference of $3 million to keep an established, former All-Star second baseman on the roster. It would be virtually impossible to find a comparable replacement on the open market for that price.
- 2027 Option: The Braves also hold an identical $7 million club option for the 2027 season (with no buyout).
This contract, originally signed in 2019, continues to be hailed as one of the most team-friendly deals in baseball history, providing the Braves with elite talent at an exceptionally low cost.
The Emotional Core Returns
Albies, alongside Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley, represents the heart of the team’s identity. His energetic presence and smile are key components of the clubhouse culture that led to the 2021 World Series title and seven consecutive playoff appearances prior to the 2025 drop-off.
- The Health Question: The major question mark for 2026 is Albies’ health. He finished the 2025 season on the Injured List after suffering a hamate fracture in his left hand—his second hand-related injury in as many years.
- The Second-Half Resurgence: Anthopoulos noted that Albies showed significant improvement after the All-Star break, hitting $.272$ with a $.769$ OPS. The Braves are betting that a healthy start to 2026 will see the three-time All-Star return to his pre-injury form.
The decision to exercise the option is the Braves making a public declaration that they believe in Albies’ leadership, his commitment, and his ability to regain his form, ensuring the team’s beloved heartbeat stays home.
