Braves next extension candidate may have just been revealed and fans should love it

Last season was not filled with many highlights for the Atlanta Braves, but the rookie campaign of Drake Baldwin was the shiniest of silver linings. The eventual NL Rookie of the Year put together an impressive debut season, showcasing that he could handle a variety of big-league pitching at the plate and earn the respect of Atlanta’s rotation.

Baldwin is exactly the type of player we have seen Alex Anthopoulos give an early extension to, and others across the baseball media are in agreement. In a recent article from Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, Baldwin was among 10 players listed as candidates to sign a long-term deal this spring. The blueprint for a Baldwin extension is there, and it is something that should excite all of Braves Country.

Possibility of Drake Baldwin signing an extension is starting to gain some national buzz

It is not uncommon for players to opt for the financial security a long-term deal provides during their pre-arbitration phase. Anthopoulos is notorious for this approach, and Baldwin has all the makings of an excellent extension candidate. The NL Rookie of the Year posted a 125 wRC+ and 3.1 fWAR in just 124 games last season.

Baldwin’s production at a premium position makes his value extremely high. If he carried this level of performance into free agency five years from now, Baldwin would easily eclipse a nine-figure deal. Given the eventual cost required to retain him, the Braves should get out in front of an extension if they are confident in his ability to continue posting All-Star-worthy seasons.

Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz signed an eight-year, $50 million deal in 2023. Ruiz’s 1.5 fWAR campaign in 2022 gave Washington’s front office enough confidence to commit to him long-term. Unfortunately for the Nationals, Ruiz has gone on to produce a combined -1.8 fWAR over the three seasons that followed.

Ruiz is an example of how these deals can go sideways, but nothing in Baldwin’s batted-ball profile suggests that kind of falloff is coming. Instead, something along the lines of a seven-year, $90 million contract with club options feels like a far more realistic ask from Baldwin’s camp. Of course, questions surrounding plans for Sean Murphy would get a bit louder with a deal like this.

Current ZiPS projections have Baldwin posting a .265/.340/.468 slash line, a 124 wRC+, and 3.9 fWAR in 2026—all numbers that put any concern of a sophomore slump well out of mind. Baldwin’s potential is exciting, and if the Braves want to make him their long-term solution at catcher, getting an extension done sooner rather than later would greatly benefit them.