NEWSLETTER
I don’t know how they do it. I mean, I know the Cubs have REALLY lagged on signing any kind of extension lately, so our perspective is already a little skewed. But the Atlanta freaking Braves aren’t just signing a lot of extensions compared to the Cubs. They are doing it on a level I’ve just never, ever, ever seen before.
They call guys up, and boom, extend them. They ACQUIRE guys, and boom, extend them:
And extend them on BARGAIN deals, too.
Like, Sean Murphy is getting life-changing, guaranteed security here. And with three years to go before free agency, anything can happen. But in exchange, one of the best overall catchers in the game is giving up THREE future free agent years at just $15 million per year, PLUS giving up a team option thereafter (at the same price as the free agent years, with no buyout!). How on earth do they get a guy like Murphy to sign this deal just weeks after acquiring him in trade? It boggles the mind.
The Braves just keep doing this. I’m wildly jealous. They are loaded, they are cost-controlled, they are young, and they have a core together for years and years to come.
