Why Braves are positioned for short-, long-term success

There's something in the water in Atlanta. Year after year, the Braves pull off team-friendly deals with franchise cornerstones while many of their peers refuse to pay stars their market value.

The Braves don't just lock up their homegrown talent. Recently, they've been trading for players who fit their needs and extending them soon thereafter.

The result? Atlanta is so primed for success now and in the future that (former Brave) Deion Sanders would blush.

With three of their youngest stars, the Braves bypassed the "uncomfortable dance" that is salary arbitration and instead made long-term investments before their asking prices became astronomical. 

In April 2019, just 115 games into his MLB career, 2018 NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuña Jr. (25) signed an eight-year, $100 million extension. That season, Acuña made his first All-Star Game, led the NL in stolen bases (37) and became the first NL player since 2012 to make the illustrious 30-30 club.

Last year, coming off a torn ACL, Acuña hit 15 homers, stole 29 bases and was an All-Star for the third time. At just $17 million this season, Acuña's salary is outside the top 15 for MLB outfielders, further evidence that his deal, fittingly, is a steal.

It's rare for a player to sign a $35 million contract and instantly be considered underpaid, but Ozzie Albies (26), who signed a seven-year extension after one full season in the majors, could make that claim. 

The Braves' sweet-swinging second baseman has the coveted combination of power and speed, exemplified by his 2021 season when he led all MLB second basemen with 106 RBI and finished third in doubles (40) and stolen bases (20).

Injuries limited his production in two of the past three seasons, but at just $7 million this season, Albies is one of the best bargains in baseball.

Outfielder Michael Harris II (21), the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, was the catalyst who sparked the Braves' turnaround last season. When he debuted May 28, the Braves were 22-25 and 8.5 games behind the Mets. After Harris' arrival, the Braves finished the season 79-36 and snatched the NL East crown from their Northeast rival.

Harris finished his rookie season with 19 homers, 64 RBI and 75 runs in 114 games. He was also a revelation in center field, where his seven Outs Above Average ranked fourth among NL outfielders.

The Braves brass was so impressed with Harris that they signed him to an eight-year, $72 million extension in August, less than three months after his call-up.

Then there's slugging 1B Matt Olson (28), who was acquired from Oakland in March 2022 to replace Braves star Freddie Freeman and soon agreed to an eight-year, $168 million extension. Add in Olson's former Athletics teammate, catcher Sean Murphy (28), whom the Braves traded for in December before extending him for six years and $73 million. Atlanta poached and extended two of the Athletics' most valuable players from the last decade. 

In 2023, Acuña, Albies and Harris will make a combined $29 million. There are more than 20 players in MLB who will make $30 million-plus this season alone.

With all five players mentioned under team control for at least the next five seasons, it's easy to see why the Braves are positioned for success today and for years to come.