Fans are well aware of how dramatic Freddie Freeman's exit was from the Atlanta Braves. It wasn't a very fun experience, putting a rift between the front office and the fanbase. However, Alex Anthopoulos did what he thought was best, and it turned out well for the Braves. They traded a few prospects for Matt Olson and then signed him to an eight-year, $168 million contract.
Freeman signed with the Dodgers shortly afterwards, and that deal also worked out well for both himself as well as LA. Olson has now cemented himself as a fan-favorite in Atlanta and one of the best players in baseball.
However, new reporting from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal revealed that Olson wasn't the first choice for the Braves. In that piece, it was revealed that Atlanta was considering signing former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo instead.
The Braves dodged a massive bullet by not signing Anthony Rizzo after Freddie Freeman's exit
It seems like a deal was never close to being completed. Rizzo was hoping for a similar contract to the two-year, $32 million he eventually received from the Yankees. That deal provided Rizzo with a player opt-out after the first year. Atlanta doesn't like to provide player opt-outs, and wanted to sign him on a one-year deal instead.
This killed any potential for a deal between both parties, so the Braves had to pivot quickly. Olson was the obvious next choice, and it's safe to say things worked out how they were meant to. It also saved the Braves from making an absolutely tragic mistake. Rizzo wasn't very good for the Yankees, couldn't stay healthy, and retired after the 2024 season.
Meanwhile, Olson has been one of the most dependable first basemen in baseball since joining the Braves. He hasn't missed a single game for Atlanta since being traded. He's been impressive at the plate with a .262 average, 164 doubles, 160 home runs, 472 RBI, and an .867 OPS.
Not only that, but he's also an elite defender and won his first Gold Glove with the Braves in 2025. While the pain of Freeman leaving will always be familiar to Braves fans, Olson was the right decision. It's hard to fathom how much angrier fans would have been if Rizzo were the replacement.
Luckily, things didn't work out with Rizzo, and fans are seeing Olson put up an MVP-worthy performance early in 2026.
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