The Atlanta Braves are now officially out of Freddie Freeman sweepstakes. Instead of resigning the 2020’s NL MVP, the Braves chose to go all-in on All-Star Matt Olson, who they acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
The Braves paid a steep price to get Olson to Atlanta, parting ways with four of their top 16 prospects. The package includes highly-regarded outfielder Cristian Pache and catcher Shea Langeliers, who was the No. 9 pick in 2019.
One day later, the organization doubled down on their commitment to Olsen as their first baseman of the future. They signed the 27-year-old Atlanta-native to a massive eight-year extension that runs through 2029 MLB season. The deal is worth $168 million and includes a $20 million option in 2030.
Matt Olson spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Athletics. During his time with the franchise, he posted a batting average of .252 while hitting 142 homers and adding 373 RBIs. He made his first All-Star appearance last season and has two Golden Glove Awards on his resume.
With Olsen on board, it makes no sense for Atlanta to pursue Freeman anymore. The 32-year-old player is considered a franchise legend and was one of the main contributors in the Braves’ run to the World Series title in 2021. But despite this, general manager Alex Anthopoulos obviously felt the cost of keeping him on board was too much compared to alternatives.
Freeman is still expected to command one of the biggest deals in the free agency with multiple teams trying to sign him. The list reportedly includes the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the New York Yankees.
