When it comes to the Atlanta Braves payroll, there is no piece currently more overpaid than third baseman Austin Riley. The infielder has hovered around the Mendoza line while being tied for the highest salary with Matt Olson at $22 million. This is a part of the ten-year $212 million deal that pays Riley $22 million for each of the next six years, covering until Riley's age 35 season. Already, this deal is aging poorly in a season with the third baseman hitting .217 and striking out 61 times already.
Riley is supposed to be a force in Atlanta's lineup, helping protect Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson. Instead, there are so many examples of Riley coming up in key spots and looking completely overmatched. The Braves have every reason for concern after Riley only played 102 games in the 2025 season and watched his numbers dip when it comes to power production.
Atlanta has invested in the infielder as if he is a cornerstone of the future, while the production leaves reason to wonder if the franchise made a mistake. Paying Riley like a star for below-average production is a clear cause for frustration. Three straight seasons from 2021-2023, the third baseman drove in more than 90 runners, a number that hasn't passed 56 in the past two seasons and missed time in both years.
Braves Cannot Ignore the Fact Austin Riley's Massive Extension is Aging Poorly
It is a problem without any real solution, as the way the Braves built the contract and their roster, there is no escape. Atlanta is going to have to be patient for the rest of this season and leading into 2027 if the production doesn't improve beforehand. Atlanta simply has to sit in the frustration and wonder if the contract extension will prove to be a mistake.
This is the reality of a situation looking increasingly to be more than simply a slow start to the 2026 season. Much of the frustration has been offset by the fact that the incredible start the team is off to offers a welcome distraction, with the list of positives outweighing players not living up to expectations.
For Riley, what is so concerning is the fact that he is getting beaten both by fastballs and offspeed, unable to offer any clear weakness to address. There is reason to wonder if it is simply mental at this point, with the infielder appearing healthy and having a track record that puts everything about this season as an outlier. The Braves simply are reduced to sitting back and continuing to hope that something sparks a bounce-back.
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