Braves could sign $189M 2-time All-Star with World Series experience as Ozzie Albies exit strategy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves have a lot to unpack this offseason, and there are several different directions they could take. During the season, one of the most closely monitored situations involved Ozzie Albies. Albies has held down second base for a long time, but GM Alex Anthopoulos’ comments during the season raised some concerns about his future.
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“With all these options (on players), we always make the decision at the end of the year — you have five days after the World Series, and that’s when you make the decision. It’s just, things can happen, things change. You always wait,” Anthopoulos said.
Before the deadline, it was announced that the Braves would be keeping Albies for at least one more season. This will be his final chance to prove he’s worth another contract.
“The Braves are going to pick up their club option on infielder Ozzie Albies. The club hasn’t announced the decision yet, but president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the move in a radio appearance, per Mark Zinno of 92.9 The Game,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.
However, Albies hasn’t been the most reliable when it comes to injuries. Because of that, the Braves could look to sign Bo Bichette this winter, potentially moving him to second base after next season.
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“However, one potential Albies exit strategy could be to sign Bichette to play short in 2026, live with his defensive shortcomings, and then slide him over to second base once Albies’ time is over,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote. “Look, Albies has been a fan favorite since he was called up and has been a part of some huge moments for the Braves over the years. Nothing here changes that. However, the poor guy just can’t seem to stay healthy and when he is on the field, Albies has often looked like a guy whose body has been through the wringer.”
Bichette brings a strong bat, but his defense doesn’t quite measure up to Albies’. The Braves will need to find the right middle infield duo, and for at least the next year, that combination could work well.
However, if Albies fails to prove himself, the Braves could once again find themselves in the shortstop market — a recurring issue that has persisted in Atlanta over the past few years.
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