Atlanta Braves: Three Players to Extend
The Atlanta Braves have a winning culture right now with three consecutive National League East championships. However, they have not yet reached their Mount Everest and won their first National League pennant since 1999.
Braves manager Brian Snitker helped turn this club around. In his first season and a half, Snitker had a winning percentage of .483. Atlanta struggled immensely in 2016 and 2017.
The rebuild did not last long and they won 90 games in 2018, 97 in 2019 and went 35-25 in the 60-game abbreviated season of 2020. His winning percentage has been .578.
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Their future was turned around quickly with the help of young players like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies as well as veterans Nick Markakis and Travis d’Arnaud. This team is a legitimate contender to win the National League.
They have not been very busy this offseason. They brought back reliever Josh Tomlin and signed a pair of starting pitchers, Drew Smyly and two-time All-Star Charlie Morton, to one-year deals..
One of their biggest contributors in 2020 was two-time All-Star and 2020 Silver Slugger winner Marcell Ozuna, who led the National League with 18 home rums and 56 RBI. They might not want to open the checkbooks and lock him up long-term. If they do not, they need to consider how else they should spend their money.
They have internal options that need to become long-term financial commitments. Here are three players the Atlanta Braves should extend before the start of the 2021 season.