Over the past decade, the Braves have set the standard for savvy long-term deals. Despite injuries and down years, Atlanta’s young core of Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and others still brought home a championship and remains among the top lineups in the majors. Not every deal is aging well, though, and as a new wave of Baby Braves enters the scene, GM Alex Anthopoulos will have to reflect if these big signings were worth it.
Some of the Braves’ most celebrated contracts are aging poorly
Right-hander Reynaldo López - $30 million contract, $14 million in 2026
After Reynaldo López’s All-Star season in 2024, the Braves swiftly signed him to a three-year deal. At the time, Spencer Strider’s injuries and the impending departure of Max Fried and Charlie Morton via free agency made the deal a no-brainer. With López and Chris Sale anchoring the rotation, the Braves seemed poised for another playoff run.
Unfortunately, López made just one start before arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder ended his 2025 campaign. The right-hander is now in line for a significant raise as his salary will jump from $8 million to $14 million in 2026. If López doesn’t return to form, or if his injury forces him to reduce his innings by moving back to the bullpen, the extension suddenly won’t seem so shrewd. López has a club option for 2027, though, which would allow Anthopoulos to limit the damage.
Catcher Sean Murphy - $73 million contract, $15 million in 2026
The Braves locked catcher Sean Murphy in before he even put on an Atlanta uniform, and at the time, the move seemed to be a major step toward long-term dominance in the NL East. After all, Murphy was (and still is) an elite defensive catcher with the middle-of-the-lineup pop. In 2023, his first season with the Braves, Murphy was as advertised, which reduced the sting of watching William Contreras, who was dealt to Milwaukee as part of the three-way Murphy trade with the A’s, become a superstar in his own right.
Lately, though, Murphy’s long-term future has been thrown into doubt. At the end of the 2025 season, it was revealed that the catcher had been playing injured for much of his time with the Braves, and he underwent hip surgery that could severely impact his abilities. On top of that, Drake Baldwin, who could be the Braves’ third NL Rookie of the Year winner since 2018, will certainly be pushing Murphy for playing time. Murphy is due $15 million in each of the next three seasons and has a club option for 2029 (when he will be 34). Look for him to cost more than he produces over the next few years.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies - $35 million, $5 million in 2026
Albies and Acuña kicked off the Braves’ strategy of long-term deals for young stars, so it pains me to say that the second baseman may be overstaying his welcome. Honestly, $5 million is still a bargain for a decent player with a great clubhouse presence and loyalty to the club, but a change in scenery might help Albies get his groove back.
Like Murphy and López, Albies ended the 2025 season on the IL, and though he should be ready for spring training, there are prospects breathing down his neck. Though he struggled to adjust in his first taste of the big leagues, Nacho Alvarez Jr. is blocked at third base and could find a home at second. If the Braves find an upgrade for shortstop, the trickle-down effect may push Albies onto the trade market.