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Breaking News: Atlanta Braves Sign Matt Olson to Eight-Year Deal

By Trent Dickeson

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTMEBER 23: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 23, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 6-5. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTMEBER 23: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 23, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 6-5. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Braves waste no time locking up Matt Olson! They extend the Atlanta native through the 2029 season.

Coming off the blockbuster trade to acquire Matt Olson yesterday, the Atlanta Braves lock up the star first baseman up for the foreseeable future. This helps soften the blow from the prospect capital used in the trade.

The eight-year deal is worth $168M over the life of the contract. Olson will earn $15M in 2022, which is $3M more than his projected salary in arbitration. He will earn $20M in 2023, before earning $21M for the remainder of the contract.

The deal includes a club option for $20M in 2030. Olson also agreed to donate $1.68M to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

Olson is considered by many to be one of the best first basemen in all of baseball. He has a career line of .252/.348/.511 142 HR, 323 R, 373 RBI, 7 SB, .360 wOBA, 132 wRC+, & 134 OPS+.

He is an elite defensive first baseman as well, totaling 34 DRS for his career. An underrated part of his game.

In 5+ professional years, Olson has a 15.2 fWAR & 18.1 bWAR.

Olson had his best season thus far in 2021. Last year with the Athletics, he hit .271/.371/.540 39 HR, 101 R, 111 RBI, 4 SB, .379 wOBA, 146 wRC+, 153 OPS+, 5.0 fWAR, & 5.8 bWAR.

Defensively, he added 6 DRS.

He was one of the best first baseman in the American League since 2017. Check out these ranks:

  • 142 HR- 1st
  • 34 DRS- 1st
  • 1.2 dWAR- 1st
  • 18.3 bWAR- 1st
  • 15.3 fWAR- 1st
  • 373 RBI- 2nd
  • 265 BB- 2nd
  • .863 OPS- 2nd
  • 49.4% hard hit rate- 2nd
  • .515 SLG- 2nd
  • 133 wRC+- 2nd

The deal for Olson commits him as their long-term plan at first base. He joins the young core of Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, Max Fried, Ian Anderson, and others.

The Atlanta Braves believe their competitive window just opened. With one World Series championship under their belt, the move to acquire Olson shows they are not only in win now mode but are looking to build something special this decade.

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