Good for both Sides
The Atlanta Braves have every reason to want to lock Albies into the Braves infield long-term. Of course, Albies and his representatives would also have to be interested in such a deal. Most of the benefits of these early career extensions go to the team. However, there are some benefits for the player as well.
Ozzie Albies signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2013 as a 16-year-old out of Curaçao without a lot of fanfare. He signed for only $350,000 that year and since then has just made peanuts as a minor league baseball player. A deal of this magnitude would essentially set Albies up for life, never having to worry about money again.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Many players that have received significant signing bonuses in the draft or the international market are willing to bet on themselves and go year to year through the arbitration process to hit free agency as soon as possible. This is the best way to maximize your earning potential while in the big leagues.
However, it’s a risky strategy as injuries, and poor performances are always possible and can cripple a player’s earning power. Since Albies is not one of those players, he may be more inclined to cash in now rather than take any risks with his financial future.
By locking up Albies for the foreseeable future, the Braves would be giving themselves a level of cost certainty for the next several years that carries a certain amount of value. However, the excess value that a contract like this could provide would be the real prize here for the Braves.
Pecota projects Ozzie Albies to be worth roughly four wins above replacement per year over the next eight years. If that turns out to be close to accurate, Albies will be worth around $250 million during that span.
Oh, and did I mention he’s a switch hitter?
Next: Let's Compare Ronald Acuna to Mike Trout
Assuming that something resembling six years and $30 million with two option years worth roughly $15 million apiece gets it done, the Atlanta Braves could be looking at something like $190 million in excess value over the life of the contract. It seems like a no-brainer that the Braves should do everything that they can to lock up this young star as soon as possible.