When the Atlanta Braves signed Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr to their contracts, many considered them two of the biggest steals in Major League Baseball.
Even now, despite the injuries they’ve dealt with, it’s tough to imagine ever signing a player of someone like Albies’ caliber to a seven-year, $35 million deal.
The Braves will eventually have to decide on his future, as his contract includes a team option in the 2026 and 2027 offseasons, but they’re expected to pick that up eventually.
Despite that expectation, Dan Schlossberg of Forbes believes he could be replaced by Eli White or Nacho Alvarez Jr., adding that the one thing to consider is if the Braves would disrupt the Albies and Acuna connection.
“The Albies contract has $7 million club options for both 2026 and 2027 but this is its final guaranteed season. And it’s time for the Braves to keep him or trade him.
“The pact provides a $4 million buyout to the player in the Braves don’t wish to renew it, though that is not likely… Plus the Braves have potential replacements in rookie Nacho Alvarez, Jr., currently rehabbing a wrist injury, and Eli White, a fleet jack-of-all-trades filling in as the Atlanta right-fielder until Acuna returns from rehabbing a torn ACL…
“Whether the team would risk disrupting the Albies-Acuna clubhouse chemistry is another matter,” he wrote.
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White has played well to start the season, but asking him to be a full-time big league player would be a bit questionable.
Outside of Albies’ dealing with injuries, he’s often been very good, despite what his numbers look like over the past two seasons. Over the past two years, in 545 at-bats, he has an OPS+ of 92, eight points below league average.
It’ll be interesting to see what they do, but given how cheap of a deal he’s on, it makes sense to keep him around
