One of the defining traits of the current Atlanta Braves front office regime has been locking up star players long before free agency. It is an easy move to sell when stars are looking at years of team control before hitting the open market. While you're potentially costing yourself millions, it serves as injury insurance and gives you future stability.
For the Braves, it is a simple bargain signing for an organization that appears allergic to paying market value. This is evidenced by the long line of recent stars that have been allowed to walk away.
Still, the moves have paid off and taken away obvious concerns for the franchise. This is something the team must consider repeating with rookie catcher Drake Baldwin. The rookie catcher is enjoying an incredible breakout season, even with expected bumps along the way. Offensively, there has been far more consistency than is typical of a rookie, and the defense has been surprisingly great.
Even with Sean Murphy still on the roster, it is clear that Baldwin is the future at the position. Locking up that future before the price continues to rise would be a wise decision. Even with years of team control remaining, it takes away a future question mark in a market that has just been reset.
BREAKING: Catcher Samuel Basallo and the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing an eight-year, $67 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Basallo, who just turned 21, is one of the best prospects in baseball, and less than a week after being called up, he has a long-term deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 22, 2025
Braves Must Extend Drake Baldwin After Baltimore's Blockbuster Signing
According to Jeff Passan, the Baltimore Orioles have already extended rookie catcher Samuel Basallo on an eight-year deal that is worth $67 million. The catcher just turned 21 and hasn't been on the active roster but for a handful of days. Still, the Orioles believe enough in the potential to see this as a bargain deal. It is a play straight out of Atlanta's book and a move that obviously brings some obvious questions for Baldwin.
It seems the Atlanta catcher would demand a much higher price considering the last months of the season. Still, if Baldwin is who the franchise believes the star to be now, it is time to get a deal done and give yourself one less question to deal with.
Baldwin has been incredibly productive and left every reason to believe that an extension is going to be cheaper the sooner a deal gets done. It should be something the Braves are already working on with the 2025 season lost. There are a few priorities that should be higher than securing one of the few bright spots from the 2025 season.