ATLANTA – Atlanta baseball is facing one of its biggest crossroads since the Freddie Freeman era. According to multiple sources, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos is considering the future of Ozzie Albies, who has been the heart and soul of the Braves for nearly a decade.
“I want to stay here forever. The Braves is my home,” Ozzie said emotionally when signing a seven-year, $35 million contract in 2019.
However, “forever” may be coming to an end.
Albies still has two team option years (2026 and 2027) worth $7 million each – a near-total bargain in the context of MLB player values. But that leaves Anthopoulos in a dilemma: continue to retain the locker room icon or start a new cycle for the Braves?
Ozzie – now 28 years old – is still the longest-serving player on the team, having led the Braves to the 2021 World Series with Ronald Acuña Jr.. But last season, he averaged just .240 with a .671 OPS, 16 HR, 74 RBI, his lowest numbers since becoming a mainstay in 2018.
A “disastrous” first half of the season saw Albies heavily criticized, even being dropped from the top lineup in June. However, he still played 154 games – the fifth time in eight seasons that he reached the 148+ mark, showing undeniable durability.
Anthopoulos is known for his cold-blooded decisions—he let go of Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson, then rebuilt the roster with younger, more effective signings. Now, Ozzie Albies could be the next victim of that philosophy.
An unnamed NL East executive told The Athletic:
“Ozzie is iconic, but the Braves are looking ahead. They don’t want to tie him down for another five years to a player who’s past his prime.”
However, the numbers are still in Albies’ favor. At $7 million a year—half the average salary of an All-Star—it’s almost impossible for the Braves not to exercise the option. The real question is: after 2027, will they be willing to give him a contract that lasts until age 35?
If the Braves don’t renew, the 2026 season could be the “farewell year” for one of the most beloved faces in the team’s history. Fans flooded social media with the hashtag #KeepOzzieForever as soon as the news broke, showing his huge influence.
“Nobody loves the Braves like Ozzie. He deserves to finish his career here,” – a major fan page on X (Twitter) wrote.
Anthopoulos is expected to make an official decision shortly after the 2025 World Series. But whatever the outcome, one thing is undeniable: the No. 1 on Ozzie Albies’s back has become a symbol of faith, perseverance and loyalty in an increasingly pragmatic MLB.
And perhaps, for Atlanta fans, the real question isn’t “Should the Braves keep Ozzie?” – but “Are the Braves still the Braves without Ozzie Albies?”
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