Let’s talk about one of the bigger fan favorites on the Atlanta Braves, Ozzie Albies. The energy, the passion, the smile that never seems to fade—he’s been a staple in the Braves’ clubhouse for years.
While the Braves have made it a habit to lock up their core players long-term, Albies remains one of the best bargains in baseball with his current deal.
With his contract potentially running out after 2027, is it time for the Braves to revisit it and extend it even further?
The Case for Caution
Let’s take a step back and look at the full picture before we get into why extending Ozzie makes sense. Injuries have been a real factor in his career. Since 2021, he’s missed 181 games.
That’s almost a full season and a half of baseball. And while injuries are sometimes just bad luck, it does raise the question of durability as he moves into his late 20s and early 30s.
Then there’s the offense. While Albies has had some great seasons at the plate, his overall production has been inconsistent. Two of his last four seasons have been below league average in terms of wRC+, including a 6% dip in 2022 and a 5% drop in 2024.
And when you break it down further, his struggles against right-handed pitching stand out. Over eight years, he’s only posted a wRC+ above league average against righties in three of those seasons. His career on-base percentage against them? Just .309—not exactly elite.
Defensively, there’s also been some decline. From 2017-2022, he was in the top 20% of MLB players in Outs Above Average in four seasons. But since 2023? He’s fallen off sharply, ranking in the bottom 2% and bottom 34% in back-to-back years. Defensive metrics can be tricky, but the trend is hard to ignore.
Of course, part of this could be attributed to injuries. Maybe he needs a full offseason to recover and return to his usual defensive form. But the fact remains—there are some question marks here.
Albies’ Case for an Extension
At the same time, when Ozzie Albies is at his best, he’s an absolute game-changer.
Let’s start with his dominance against left-handed pitching. If his overall numbers matched what he does against lefties, we’d be talking about an annual MVP candidate. He’s slashing an eye-popping .336/.362/.564 against southpaws for his career.
Every season except for two, he’s been healthy. He’s been at least 36% better than the league average when facing lefties. That’s an incredible weapon for the Braves’ lineup.
And while he’s not a prolific base-stealer, he’s one of the better baserunners in the league. His Ultimate Base Running (UBR) has been above league average in every season except for last year, when he didn’t play a full season. That’s the kind of small advantage that doesn’t always show up in box scores but adds value to a team.
Then there’s his overall body of work. Since his debut in 2017, he ranks fourth among all active second basemen in fWAR. And even when you narrow it down to the past four seasons—despite missing 181 games—he still ranks 11th among active second basemen in fWAR.
That’s ahead of guys like Gleyber Torres and Luis Arraez, who have played nearly 100 more games than him in that span. If you go by fWAR per game, he jumps up to ninth, right ahead of Jeff McNeil and Jake Cronenworth.
The Contract Situation With the Braves
Let’s not forget that Ozzie Albies is currently on one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. He’s set to make just $7 million in 2025, with club options for 2026 and 2027 at the same price. For a player of his caliber, that’s an absolute steal.
The Braves don’t have to extend him right now, but this could be the perfect time if they want to. A deal in the range of five years and $75 million could work for both sides.
That would bump his average annual value up to $15 million, which is a number he could likely get on the open market. But it also ensures he stays in Atlanta beyond 2027 while giving him financial security now.
The Bigger Picture For the Braves
Over the past few years, the Braves have seen several fan favorites leave. Locking up Ozzie Albies—one of this team’s true leaders—would be a massive sign of good faith to the fanbase.
At the end of the day, baseball is a business. But some players just feel like they belong with one franchise for their entire career. Albies could be one of those guys.
And if the Braves decide to commit to him long-term, it wouldn’t just be a smart baseball move—it would be a win for the fans, the clubhouse, and the franchise as a whole.
