While the Atlanta Braves began this season with high expectations, the team’s season is all but over with less than a week until the MLB trade deadline. Entering Saturday, the Braves own a 44-58 record and are closer to last place (3.5 games ahead of the Washington Nationals) than they are to first place (15 games back of the New York Mets) in the National League East.
It’s a disappointing development for a team that was aiming for its eighth straight playoff berth. But now it’s time to ask how the Braves can move forward. Atlanta has hitched its wagon to a core that helped bring home a World Series title in 2021, but has to wonder how it can avoid the disappointment it endured this season.
It leaves a former All-Star with less than a week to prove his worth and force the Braves’ hands with one of their biggest decisions to make over the next several months.
Ozzie Albies Must Prove His Worth to Braves Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline
When you talk about the Braves’ success over the past decade, you have to mention second baseman Ozzie Albies. A three-time All-Star, Albies became a fixture in Atlanta’s infield, hitting .265/.319/.456 in his nine-year career. The Braves rewarded this importance by signing Albies to a seven-year, $35 million contract extension in 2019, and while the contract has been an overall bargain, his recent play has left the front office with a difficult decision.
Albies has been one of several Braves that have struggled this season, posting a career-low batter’s line of .220/.294/.326 with nine homers, 39 RBI, and eight stolen bases on nine attempts. Baseball Savant paints an even grimmer picture as Albies is posting his lowest average exit velocity (87.3 mph) since 2022 (87.1 mph) and ranks in the bottom 10% of hitters with a 29.8% hard hit rate.
The good news here is that Albies is still a solid defender, and at age 28, there’s a good reason to believe that he’ll be able to bounce back next season. But the $7 million club options for 2026 and 2027 aren’t the formality they were toward the beginning of his contract, and has the Braves listening to offers according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
The Houston Astros are one team that could be interested in Albies, but while Albies bats from the left side, he doesn’t have the power that would make him a top option. The Los Angeles Angels could also be an option, but it’s unknown how much they’ll be willing to take out of a weak farm system for a team that entered Saturday 4.5 games out of the final wild card spot in the American League.
Even if Albies survives the deadline, he’ll be auditioning for a job next season as the Braves could move on by declining his option. It puts the former franchise cornerstone on notice over the next week and could spell the end of his time in Atlanta.