Contract details for Mike Yastrzemski

The Atlanta Braves made their biggest move of the offseason to date, signing outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. He slots in seamlessly as a left-handed bat who handles right-handed pitching extremely well and provides plus defense at all three outfield spots, giving the Braves flexibility to use Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jurickson Profar at DH when needed.

Jon Heyman reported the deal as a two-year, $23 million contract, but as is often the case, there’s a bit more nuance beneath the surface.

Mikę Yastrzemski Contract

• $9 million in 2026
• $10 million in 2027
• $7 million option for 2028, $4 million buyout

$9 million for a player who has posted at least 2.0 WAR in all seven of his MLB seasons, including 2.8 WAR last year between San Francisco and Kansas City, is a bargain. It’s not the sexiest acquisition, but it dramatically raises the floor of the Braves’ outfield — something they desperately needed.

Keep in mind: largely due to Jurickson Profar’s suspension, the Braves were forced to give a ton of starts to Eli White, Alex Verdugo, Jarred Kelenic, and Bryan De La Cruz in 2025. That experiment was an abject disaster. Depth was a massive issue, and with the early offseason additions of Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski, that area already looks significantly more stable.

There’s still plenty of offseason left, and recent reporting from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal suggests the Braves have money to spend. They were in on Edwin Diaz before he chose the Dodgers and remain linked to Padres flamethrower Robert Suarez. On top of that, expect them to be active in pursuing another proven arm for the rotation.