Atlanta Braves: The next 3 candidates for contract extensions

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News broke on Tuesday that the Atlanta Braves had extended young star center fielder Michael Harris II to an eight-year, $72 million contract. This is the third major extension the Braves have made this year, to go with the 10-year, $212 million extension given to Austin Riley, and the eight-year, $168 million extension handed out to Matt Olson after acquiring him from Oakland.

They currently have the following players under contract or team control until at least 2026:

Ronald Acuna
Ozzie Albies
Matt Olson
Michael Harris II
Austin Riley
Ozzie Albies
Kyle Wright
Spencer Strider
William Contreras

For those that don’t know, organizations work for decades to have a core of legitimate players locked down for that long together. They have a truly talented young core that was built almost entirely from their farm system. The Braves have become a model for other organizations to try and emulate.

As a result, the Braves have set themselves up for both the present and the future. They still have an embarrassment of young talent yet to reach an extension, so who is next?

Here are three potential candidates for a contract extension from the Atlanta Braves

Jun 26, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (65) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

As noted in another post, Spencer Strider is a tremendous young pitcher, who is the odds-on favorite to take home NL Rookie of the Year this year. He currently owns a 3.04/1.97/2.54 ERA/FIP/SIERA slash line per FanGraphs.

His Baseball Savant page shows us he is in the top of the league in K%, fastball velocity, and whiff %. He loves to overpower hitters with his fastball (which averages 98.2 mph), and it is also extra effective because it has 1.8 more inches of vertical movement than the average fastball. However, his slider is a force as well. He has a 52.5% whiff rate and .157 batting average against that slider.

The pitchers that Spencer Strider’s Baseball Savant page compares him to are Shohei Ohtani, Corbin Burnes, and Dylan Cease. If you are going to be grouped with anyone as a young pitcher, that is an amazing group to be a part of.

He is an ace in the making, and I can only image the Braves will do whatever it takes to lock him down long term. Strider is the most logical “next man up” to receive an extension, and I’d estimate he could haul in somewhere in the eight-year, $100 million range.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 10: Kyle Wright #30 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at Fenway Park on August 10, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) /

Kyle Wright is another young pitcher experiencing a breakout season. After struggling mightily in his first few callups, as most young pitchers do, he has really turned it on this year. He currently sports a 3.14 ERA/3.67 FIP/3.52 SIERA slash line per FanGraphs in his age 26 season. His curveball is his bread and butter, and per Baseball Savant it has an 83rd percentile spin rate, and a 34.4% whiff rate.

The biggest knock on Wright is that his fastball is very hittable. It has a .326 batting average and .558 slugging against it. Ironically, it has significantly more horizontal movement than the average MLB 4-seam fastball, and significantly less vertical movement. It averages 95.2 mph and lives mostly at the top of the strike zone.

Wright is following a long line of young Braves pitchers who have shined in recent memory. Their farm system has been a well-oiled machine for many years, and Wright appears to be a by-product of that.

The Braves may exercise caution due to the history of success not being there, but continued success will only drive his price tag up. At this point, I’d think he could be extended for a pretty fair rate even though he is not set to hit free agency until 2028.

Apr 17, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson throws to first base on a ground out by San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Dansby Swanson has become an absolute force in the middle of the Braves lineup. Unlike the other two players listed in this article, he is set to hit free agency in the very near future. He will be an Unrestricted Free Agent after this year, and I am sure the Braves are already in discussions with his reps.

Swanson was a first overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2015 draft. He was traded that same year to Atlanta in a famous trade that saw the Diamondbacks receiving Shelby Miller. It is neither here nor there, but that trade did not work out for Arizona.

Swanson is the WAR leader for the position players on the Braves currently with 5.2. He is a defensive wizard at shortstop, with a 14.5 defensive score on FanGraphs, which is the highest on the team. In 502 at-bats, Swanson has a .808 OPS, and a .294 batting average.

The concerning part for the Braves has to be the fact that he has never been this good to this point. His highest WAR season besides this one was last year with a 3.4. As far as wRC+, he was considered barely a below average hitter last year with a 98. With Swanson, the Braves know they are getting top notch defense, but the bat is up for debate.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves walks back to the mound during an 11-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Max Fried is another obvious candidate as he has been very solid for many years. This year has been his most impressive as he has a 2.60 ERA/2.45 FIP/2.00 SIERA slash line. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he received an extension. He will hit age 31 when he becomes an UFA, so that may give the braves pause for an extension.

Vaughn Grissom has absolutely scorched earth in his first 28 plate appearances. He currently has .400 average with a pair of home runs. He has already integrated himself into this powerful lineup, leaving them with even fewer holes. He will definitely have to keep it up, though, for the Braves to pull out their checkbooks. I am sure they are watching though.

William Contreras is having an outstanding year with a 134 wRC+. He averages a home run per 15.6 plate appearances, which is very good. Another player not set to hit free agency until 2028, they may choose to get ahead of the game and get an extension in his hands.

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In conclusion, the Braves have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to young talent, and they are wise to lock up that talent for the foreseeable future.

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