The Atlanta Braves are the amongst the top teams for strategy and restraint in the world of MLB spending. Their lack of big free-agent signings this offseason has been controversial, but let’s take a second and dig into the numbers.
With nine MLB teams blowing past the $237 million luxury tax threshold in 2024, the Braves find themselves among the big spenders—fourth, to be precise—shelling out $276 million with a tax bill of $14 million. Yet, how they allocate their dollars tells a fascinating story.
Breaking Down the Luxury Tax Puzzle
For the Braves, spending isn’t just about piling up checks—it’s about allocating them wisely. Their top earners give us a glimpse into their priorities. These numbers are based on Spotrac stats.
Austin Riley, the team’s cornerstone third baseman, leads the way with a $21.2 million luxury tax hit (8.95%), closely followed by Matt Olson at $21 million (8.86%).
Charlie Morton rounds out the elite 8% club with $20 million (8.44%). Marcell Ozuna, Max Fried, and Raisel Iglesias hover in the 6–7% range, showing that the Braves value both established stars and strategic depth.
And let’s not forget how they’ve built their roster: a mix of savvy trades (Olson, Iglesias, Murphy), free-agent deals (Morton, Ozuna, Lopez), and homegrown talent (Riley, Fried, Acuña, Strider). It’s a recipe for consistent contention without diving headlong into reckless spending.
Strategic Spending vs. Splashy Moves
Some fans might not like the lack of big-name signings, but the Braves aren’t shy about investing in talent. They’re just calculated about it. Even as they go $40 million over the luxury tax threshold, they avoid contracts like Zach Wheeler’s $42 million tax hit for the Phillies.
Instead, they’ve found ways to maximize value, as evidenced by their ability to retain quality players while shedding unnecessary burdens like most of Chris Sale’s salary after last offseason’s trade.
The Braves Championship Edge
Let’s remember that the Braves hoisted a World Series trophy this decade. Meanwhile, five of the nine teams paying the luxury tax haven’t.
Their method of spending wisely while keeping their sights on the prize isn’t just practical—it’s effective. It’s about staying competitive today while securing a sustainable future.
Sure, they haven’t made that massive offseason splash yet. But with a payroll strategy that keeps them in the mix year after year, the Braves are playing the long game. And given their track record, who’s to say they’re wrong?
