When the good times were still rolling which feels like ages ago these days, the Atlanta Braves were lauded for locking up as much of their young core on extensions as they did. Sure, they couldn't keep everyone as Freddie Freeman, Max Fried, and Dansby Swanson left, but the Braves did sign a number of really good players to long-term extensions with the hope that doing so would keep their competitive window open for a long-time. However, at least one MLB insider thinks doing so may have actually hurt the Braves in 2025.
Obviously the Braves are in the middle of a truly terrible funk right now. A historically terrible loss on Thursday aside, this is a team that has felt like the wind has been taken out of their sails for a while now. The offense is lackluster at best and the bullpen has been victimized after several injuries and departures. This simply does not look like an Atlanta Braves baseball team right now.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal in his latest piece on the Braves' struggles this year, the idea that the Braves handing out so many extensions made their roster a tad complacent and too comfortable isn't all that crazy.
Did the Braves handing out so many extensions take away some of their urgency?
Now, Rosenthal certainly did not pin all the Braves' struggles on their extensions. He correctly noted that Atlanta has lost some real talent over the last couple of years and that the Braves' front office didn't exactly do much last offseason outside of signing Jurickson Profar who was almost immediately suspended 80 games.
However, there is at least some merit to the idea that guys having more personal incentive to continue playing well could make them play a bit harder as they are still looking for their next deal. However, it doesn't really make sense in the Braves' case.
Matt Olson signed an extension as soon as he arrived and he was a MVP candidate in 2023. Michael Harris II was really good last season before cratering this season despite getting paid. Ronald Acuña Jr. signed an early (and very team friendly) extension and while injuries have been a problem, he also put up one of the best seasons in baseball history after his deal and he has been playing great since returning from the IL. Those are just a few of the examples of guys that may not be having banner seasons this year, but have shown that bigger paychecks haven't kept them from playing their best previously.
The more rational explanation for the Braves' troubles is that it is a combination of factors. As a team, they have been a bit unlucky especially in close games. The front office not beefing up the bullpen last offseason has certainly been a problem and, yes, some of the guys that have long-term deals have underperformed. You also can lose the caliber of players they have lost over time without feeling the effects.
Everyone once to boil the Braves' ineptitude to one simple thing that needs to be fixed. Unfortunately, in the Braves' case, it feels like a number of tiny cuts combined with it feeling like it just isn't their year.