The Atlanta Braves are coming off yet another frustrating season with infielder Ozzie Albies. The second baseman's lack of consistent offense has been a source of annoyance for a fan base with no shortage of headaches, which is a story that has repeated over the last two seasons, as Albies has dealt with injuries and an inconsistent bat.
Now that it's the offseason, there's room for debate as to whether or not the franchise should pick up the team option on Albies this offseason. With that being said, the answer quickly presents itself when you dive a little deeper.
Braves Shouldn't Give Up on Ozzie Albies Just Yet
Albies is only $7 million for the 2026 season, per Spotrac, which remains a potential bargain in comparison to his potential ceiling. The flip side of this is the fact that parting ways with Albies would require a $4 million payout, saving $3 million without leaving room for potential upgrades unless the Braves are willing to spend.
In other words, the obvious solution is to bring Albies back and look for additional depth in free agency. Atlanta has this same option for the 2027 season, making it likely that the infielder has plenty of time to turn his career around.
The issue for Albies has been incredible inconsistency, reflected by a .240 batting average last season — a new career low. His 2.1 WAR was above his 2024 performance (1.6); however, his .671 OPS was a massive regression from .707, marking the second consecutive year it's declined.
Poor situational hitting and a complete lack of consistency led to a level of frustration that was only exacerbated by having Nick Allen spend the bulk of the season as the starting shortstop. Allen's incredible defense wasn't enough to keep him in the lineup due to his inability to reach the Mendoza line in the second half of the season.
It was a pairing that left fans a step beyond ready to move in different directions in hopes of finding more offensive consistency. While this remains the outlook at shortstop, the Braves simply cannot do better than Albies' potential, looking at free agency. As tempting as Gleyber Torres or Luis Arraez might be, the concerns with both of these potential answers are obvious. Atlanta's best solution is simply giving Albies another season and hoping for a different answer.
If there was ever a player due for a bit of a turnaround, it is the veteran 2B after undergoing two incredibly rough seasons. Sticking with Albies and hoping that his bat can get back on track could give him the confidence that he needs, and a bounce-back performance in 2026 is exactly what the Braves need to get back into the playoff picture.