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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 04: Michael Harris II #23 reacts after he and Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves score on a two-RBI single by Matt Olson #28 in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves have some big decisions to make in the coming years regarding some of the franchise’s most beloved players. Atlanta is awaiting the decision on current free agent Marcell Ozuna, who has been a staple in the Braves lineup for six seasons.
The Braves front office decided to pick up the option on second-baseman Ozzie Albies’ contract, which keeps him in Atlanta, for now, until next offseason, when he will become a free agent. There have been slight speculative rumors that Albies could be traded this offseason, but nothing has materialized. However, a recent article by Fansided’s Chris Landers predicts Ozzie to be ‘good as gone’ heading into the 2026 offseason a year from now.
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MLB Writer Believes Ozzie Albies’ Time in Atlanta Will Be Over Soon.
Ozzie Albies has spent nine seasons in Atlanta, and he’s been named to three All-Star teams, two Silver Slugger awards (2019, 2021), and helped the Braves win the World Series in 2021. But will this be his last season in a Braves uniform?
FanSided’s Chris Landers puts Ozzie Albies into the ‘as good as gone’ category of next season’s free agent class:
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 04: Michael Harris II #23 reacts after he and Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves score on a two-RBI single by Matt Olson #28 in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“For years Albies has been a foundational piece for the Braves, but recent evidence suggests this relationship has just about run its course. Albies is coming off a career-worst season at the plate, and his defensive value figures to continue eroding as he enters his 30s. Whichever team signs him is going to get a potentially nasty decline, and the fact that Atlanta has let Albies reach his walk year rather than extending him before now suggests they don’t trust his production moving forward.”
What Landers writes could be true, as Albies has failed to reach the league-average mark of a 100 OPS+ in back-to-back seasons.
Should the Braves Consider Extending or Re-Signing Ozzie Albies?
This depends on what the Braves decide to do with Marcell Ozuna, who is still deciding on which MLB team he will be on in 2026.
As for Albies, if he reverts to his 2023 form, or even just plays as he’s projected to by BaseballReference.com, that will put a lot of pressure on the Braves’ front office to make a deal with him. Second base, aside from the top options across MLB, is a rather thin position.
BaseballReference.com projects Albies to hit .255 with 18 home runs and an OPS of .732.
If Atlanta gets that type of production out of Albies in 2026, they will be compelled to keep him, as that would also suggest the Braves take a big leap in wins as well.
Ozzie has 157 career home runs and a .455 slugging percentage over 1028 games in a Braves uniform, and has been a fan-favorite ever since his call-up in 2017.
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