Over the past five years, Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves have handed out over $773 million in contract extensions, but it’s becoming clear they may have overpaid some players.
While some praised Atlanta for locking up young talent at affordable prices, others argued the team was exploiting these players. What few acknowledged was the inherent risk in these deals — and now those risks are catching up with the Braves.
Let’s break down a few key contracts. Despite his ACL injuries, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s $100 million extension remains a bargain. Unlike his slow recovery in 2022, Acuña has bounced back quickly after his second ACL tear, posting an MVP-caliber performance so far in 2024 with an OPS over 1.000 and a .333 batting average with four homers in 12 games.
Chris Sale’s $38 million extension also looks like a steal. After winning the National League Triple Crown and Cy Young in his first season with Atlanta, Sale has continued strong in 2025, sporting a 2.93 ERA overall and an impressive 1.43 ERA in his last eight starts.
But beyond those two, the picture is far less rosy. Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, Michael Harris II, and Ozzie Albies all signed big extensions, but their performances vary widely.
Austin Riley (10 years, $212 million)
Riley is the highest-paid player in Braves history, yet he hasn’t consistently played like it. After signing his mega-deal in 2022 during his career-best season, expectations were sky-high. Riley delivered solid numbers in 2023, hitting 37 homers with a strong OPS+, finishing in the top 7 of MVP voting.
But 2024 was a setback — his batting average, OPS+, and slugging dropped to career lows. Through 56 games this year, his OPS+ is only 16% above league average, a far cry from his previous dominance. While not outright bad, Riley hasn’t lived up to his massive contract yet, especially when it matters most.
Matt Olson (8 years, $168 million)
Olson’s spectacular 2023 feels like a one-off. That year, he smashed 54 homers with an OPS+ 64% above average, finishing 4th in MVP voting. However, in his other three seasons (including this one), Olson’s numbers hover around just 16% above league average, with a batting average barely over .240.
Fans inevitably compare Olson to Freddie Freeman, who he replaced in Atlanta but now shines for the Dodgers. While this comparison may be unfair, Olson’s inconsistency and failure to meet his high bar remains a sore spot.
Spencer Strider (6 years, $75 million)
Strider’s struggles have been well-documented, especially given Anthopoulos’ gamble to have him replace Max Fried in the rotation. The Braves opted to let Fried walk and trust Strider and Grant Holmes to fill big shoes.
While Fried’s 2024 wasn’t stellar, he was still far better than Strider, who entered a recent game with a 4.50 ERA, then gave up five runs over five innings, raising his ERA to 5.68. His velocity has dropped, and control remains shaky, casting doubt on whether he can regain his top form in 2025.
Anthopoulos’ decision to extend Strider early, betting on his return from surgery instead of paying Fried a bigger contract later, was risky. If Strider can’t bounce back, that gamble could cost the Braves a playoff spot.
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