ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Braves have made several key financial decisions to kick off their offseason, highlighted by picking up the contract option for second baseman Ozzie Albies while declining options for two veteran relief pitchers.
Albies Secured at a Bargain
The Braves officially exercised the $7 million club option for three-time All-Star Ozzie Albies for the 2026 season.
- 2026 Salary: $7 million (for the fourth consecutive season).
- Contract Context: This decision secures Albies at what continues to be one of the biggest bargain contracts in baseball. The Braves also retain a second $7 million club option for the 2027 campaign, which features no buyout. The current decision effectively costs the team a net $3 million (the difference between the $7M option and the $4M buyout he would have received).
- 2025 Performance: Albies, 28, hit a career-low .240 with a .671 OPS but still managed 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 157 games. The organization is betting on a rebound following a full offseason of recovery from the left hamate bone surgery he underwent late in 2025.
Two Relievers Head to Free Agency
In a move to create financial flexibility and reshape the bullpen, the Braves declined contract options for two veteran right-handers: Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley.
| Player | 2026 Option Value | Buyout Received | 2025 Braves Performance (via search) |
| Pierce Johnson (34) | $7 million | $250,000 | 3-3 record, 3.05 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 65 relief appearances (59.0 IP). |
| Tyler Kinley (34) | $5 million | $750,000 | 6-3 record, 3.96 ERA in 73 appearances (72.2 IP total). Kinley posted a lights-out 0.72 ERA in 24 appearances after being traded to Atlanta. |
While Kinley was phenomenal after arriving at the trade deadline (5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in 24 appearances), the Braves decided the $5 million price tag was too steep for a reliever with high-leverage bullpen needs elsewhere. Johnson provided a solid ERA over 65 outings but the Braves opted for the $250,000 buyout. Both relievers now enter unrestricted free agency.
These moves free up bullpen money for Atlanta as new manager Walt Weiss begins his tenure, with the team facing crucial decisions at shortstop (following Ha-Seong Kim’s opt-out) and needing to solidify the starting rotation.
The Braves declined options on two solid relievers to save a combined $10 million. Given their need to address shortstop and the starting rotation, how impactful is that $10 million in savings expected to be in the current free-agent market?
