When the offseason began, Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McGuirk boldly proclaimed that he expected the club to have a top-five payroll in baseball in 2026. For fans, it was easy to be weary of this declaration, especially after watching their favorite team reduce payroll in the midst of a championship window.
However, a month into the offseason, it's apparent that the Braves ownership was serious about spending, and the addition of 2025 All-Star Robert Suarez is the latest proof that the team will have one of the highest payrolls in baseball going into 2026.
After signing Robert Suarez, Braves have the third-highest payroll in baseball
Even before Suarez agreed to terms with the Braves, Atlanta had one of the highest payrolls going into 2026. Part of this was because of all of the extensions the club has handed out over the last few years, and the part is that they've simply been more aggressive signing contracts than other teams, as they had already re-signed Raisel Iglesias and signed Mike Yastrzemski the day before nabbing Suarez.
After signing Suarez, however, the Braves are now firmly among the top spending teams. With three months left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Braves have already committed approximately $227.3 million in payroll allocations in 2026, which is already $7 million higher than their 2025 payroll, where they ended the season with the ninth-highest payroll.
As of December 11, their $227.3 million payroll ranks as the third-highest in MLB, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have around $245.9 million committed to payroll, and the New York Mets, who have $240.1 million committed to payroll.
Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays had the fifth-highest payroll in baseball, spending $255.2 million over the course of the 2025 season, though they started the season with a payroll nearly $16 million lower than where they finished.
Obviously, other MLB teams still have plenty to spend, but considering the Braves still aren't finished adding, it's easy to imagine how another starter or reliever could boost the team to around $240 million in payroll.