If Atlanta Braves fans have learned anything through the Alex Anthopoulos era, it's that paying pitchers at market value is not generally how AA likes to do business. While the club invested in its bullpen last offseason, one of Atlanta's best high-leverage arms is showcasing that he deserves a pay raise as well.
Unfortunately, Dylan Lee might be the odd man out as he is under team control through 2028, meaning the Braves will not be forced to act with much urgency regarding his contract. The 31-year-old lefty won his arbitration case against the Braves in February, earning $2.2 million in 2026, and it seems the Braves are content to keep going to arbitration with Lee in the future.
Dylan Lee, Winner by KO. 🥊 pic.twitter.com/hgo6T7kCqM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 9, 2026
Dylan Lee has been immenseley valuable, but it seems the Braves are fine waiting on an extension
Lee is making fractions of what he has been worth in terms of value. According to Fangraphs Dollars scale (where WAR is converted to a dollars scale based on what the player would make in free agency), Lee has been the second most valuable pitcher on the Braves, coming in at a $13.7 million value thus far.
Through 44 games this season, Lee has a career best in ERA (1.47), FIP (1.42), and bWAR (1.8). The underlying data loves Lee too; he ranks in the 97th percentile or better in each of the following categories: xERA, xBA, chase%, whiff%, K%, BB%, hard-hit%, and overall pitching run value. Simply put, Lee has been one of the best relievers in baseball, and he is not making nearly as much as the top arms across the league.
Anthopoulos has paid free agent relievers in the past (Pierce Johnson, Joe Jimenez, and Robert Suarez, to name a few), but he's never handed out an extension to a reliever still under contract for two+ seasons. Lee's 2026 performance means he will get a nice raise next year, but it will not come close to the long-term security other free agent relief pitchers secure.
If the Braves forgo a Lee extension, the lefty would reach free agency at 34-years-old. At that time, Lee could be in line for a deal similar to what Robert Suarez got, but there's no guarantee the Braves would be the team to determine that Lee would age well enough to provide value on such a deal.
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