Best Contract: Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (Eight years, $100 million)
Ronald Acuna Jr.’s contract with the Atlanta Braves remains not only the best on the team, but arguably one of the best in all of MLB. Despite suffering multiple ACL tears since the deal was signed, his production has already more than lived up to its value.
Advertisement
Acuna agreed to the extension after winning National League Rookie of the Year in 2018, and the contract includes two $17 million club options for 2027 and 2028. Given his performance, those options are almost certain to be exercised.
In the seven seasons since signing, Acuna has collected three Silver Slugger Awards, five All-Star selections and the 2023 NL MVP. That year, he accomplished the unthinkable, becoming the first player in MLB history to record 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in a single season.
Even in 2025, with limited mobility on the basepaths and in the field, Acuna continued to be elite at the plate. He posted a .290 batting average, .417 on-base percentage, .935 OPS, 21 home runs and 42 RBIs across 95 games, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Worst Contract: Third Baseman Austin Riley (10 years, $212 million)
Advertisement
Austin Riley received the largest contract in Braves history in August 2022, a 10-year, $212 million deal that included a $20 million club option for an additional season.
At the time, Riley was in the midst of another standout campaign. He finished top 10 in National League MVP voting in 2022 for the second straight year and again in 2023. During that three-year run from 2021–23, he collected two Silver Slugger Awards and earned two All-Star selections, cementing himself as one of the premier third basemen in the game.
Since then, however, what once looked like a great value deal has become far less certain. Riley has battled multiple core injuries, culminating in abdominal surgery this past offseason, and those setbacks limited his availability throughout 2024–25. Even when healthy enough to play, his offensive production has not matched his earlier standard.
The 28-year-old appeared in 102 games last season, posting a .260 batting average, .309 on-base percentage, .737 OPS, 16 home runs and 54 RBIs. While those numbers are respectable, they fall well short of the elite output that earned him his extension.
Advertisement
Riley is still young enough to rebound, but with several years left on such a massive contract, the Braves face real uncertainty. What was once viewed as a cornerstone deal now carries significant risk, hinging on whether Riley can regain his All-Star form.