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You are here: Home / Sports / MLB / Braves Lock Up Matt Olson On A Massive Deal

Braves Lock Up Matt Olson On A Massive Deal

By Andres Chavez March 15, 2022 @andres_chavez13

Matt Olson #28 of the MLB Oakland Athletics swings at a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

 

The Atlanta Braves made all the headlines on Monday after their acquisition of first baseman Matt Olson in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

They surrendered four of their best prospects to get a deal done: catcher Shea Langeliers, outfielder Cristian Pache, and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes.

The transaction also made a lot of noise in social media because it all but took the Braves out of the running for free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Atlanta also made the news on Tuesday, regarding Olson.

They decided to lock him up to a long-term deal: yes, the thing they couldn’t (or didn’t want to) do with Freeman.

“Not only does Atlanta have a new 1B in Matt Olson, it’s going to have him for a long, long time. Olson and the Braves have agreed on an eight-year, $168 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta locks up the hometown kid two years before he was due to hit the market,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

Not only does Atlanta have a new 1B in Matt Olson, it’s going to have him for a long, long time. Olson and the Braves have agreed on an eight-year, $168 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta locks up the hometown kid two years before he was due to hit the market.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 15, 2022

 

Olson Is A Very Talented Player

Olson, indeed, is four years younger than Freeman, and remains a plus defender in the cold corner.

With the bat, he carries plenty of thump.

In 2021, Olson had a career year with Oakland, hitting 39 home runs and slashing .271/.371/.540 with 5.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

He doesn’t have quite the batting average upside of Freeman, but he is slightly more powerful at this point and a better defender, too.

He doesn’t have the history Freeman has in Atlanta, though, and overall, Freeman remains, arguably, the better pure hitter.

Olson, however, is the one who is getting the big contract from Atlanta, and all parties decided to move on.

He is a very talented player who will help the Braves extend their postseason success.

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Filed Under: Atlanta Braves Rumors And News (Updated Daily), MLB Tagged With: Atlanta Braves

About Andres Chavez

Sportswriter, fantasy sports enthusiast. Covering MLB, NBA, and NFL from every possible angle.

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