Just based on the extensions with Ronald Acun and Ozzie Albie, Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulous should be the Executive of the Year.
On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves locked Ozzie Albies into a very team friendly long term contract. At minimum, he will be in Atlanta for seven years for a total of $35 million. Two team options can bring the total value of the deal to $45 million, or less than what the Orioles will be paying Chris Davis for the next two seasons.
This extension comes after the Braves locked in another young star on an extremely team friendly deal. Ronald Acuna signed an eight year extension worth $100 million, with two options for 2027 and 2028. Even if those options are picked up, that is a ten year deal worth $124 million.
As long as the Braves remain in postseason contention, there is a clear front runner for Executive of the Year. General manager Alex Anthopolous has done a tremendous job in locking in those two players on extremely team friendly contracts, while building the type of locker room that makes these young players want to stay around.
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With each deal that has been announced, the disappointment of the offseason moves further into the past. Anthopolous had been criticized for not doing more to improve the team, especially as players like Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel continue to languish in free agency. The moves to sign Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann, and bring back Nick Markakis, were met with a collective yawn.
Yet, that is all a part of the plan. The Braves are building a young, dynamic roster. Those signings will not block top prospects Austin Riley, Cristian Pache, and William Contreras. The Braves will be getting younger, and while doing so, will be looking to lock in more of these players on team friendly extensions.
As teams look to get younger, and to lock in those younger players sooner, Anthopolous has constructed a roster that will allow the Braves to do just that. Likewise, having Brian Snitker on the bench, a baseball lifer who helped guide these young players through the minors, has built the type of clubhouse that those players want to be a part of. The plan has begun to come together for Atlanta.
With these moves, and the way the future is shaping up, the Atlanta Braves are in great shape moving forward. For that, Alex Anthopolous may have already won the Executive of the Year award.