Atlanta Braves Look For Sustainability With So Many Key Players Signed Long-Term

Brian Snitker has as a lot job safety as any supervisor in Main League Baseball.

He led the Atlanta Braves to an unlikely World Collection title final season. They upset the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros on their strategy to their first title since 1995.

This season, the Braves are within the hunt for a fifth consecutive Nationwide League East title. They’re three video games behind the first-place New York Mets within the division race and have a commanding nine-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the primary NL wild card.

The Braves will virtually definitely attain the postseason in 2022. Normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos is doing his half to verify Snitker could have contending groups properly into the long run.

That may make any supervisor really feel a way of safety.

When the Braves signed rookie heart fielder Michael Harris II to an eight-year, $72-million contract earlier this month, he turned the fifth member of the lineup to be locked right into a long-term deal.

Harris joins first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley and proper fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. The Braves are additionally hopeful of signing shortstop Dansby Swanson to a multi-year contract earlier than he can turn out to be a free agent in November.

Olson signed an eight-year, $168-million contract in March after being acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a commerce. Third baseman Austin Riley agreed to a 10-year, $212-millon deal on Aug. 1.

Acuna is within the fourth yr of an eight-year, $100-million contract that features group choices for 2027 and 2028. Albies is 4 seasons right into a seven-year, $35-million contract that has group choices for 2025 and 2026.

Whereas nothing is ever sure in baseball, Snitker feels awfully good about how his membership units up for the long run.

“I feel it’s superior not just for me because the supervisor however your entire group,” Snitker mentioned. “Alex identifies these intangible, high-character guys that we’re getting. They usually all are. They’re nice gamers and nice folks and to have the ability to signal all of them and all people is aware of they’re going to be right here is particular.

“It’s a pleasant feeling as a group, as a company and for Braves Nation simply to know they’re going to have these guys round for some time. They’re a tight-knit group that enjoys taking part in collectively. It’s fairly good which you can get a gaggle like this collectively then preserve them collectively. We’re very lucky as a company to be on this place.”

The participant who may be probably the most intriguing is Harris. He’s simply 21 years outdated and made his main league debut Could 28.

Harris is hitting .298/.343/.517 with 13 dwelling runs and 15 stolen bases in 82 video games. He has additionally contributed six defensive runs saved.

Whereas Harris’ statistics are eyepopping, Snitker is much more impressed along with his maturity.

“He’s had some at-bats that didn’t go fairly so properly and perhaps he chased some pitches exterior the strike zone, however he at all times has the power to place it behind him,”

Snitker mentioned. “I don’t see him getting annoyed with himself. He’s at all times hanging in there, at all times adjusting. You don’t at all times see that with a younger participant in his first yr within the massive leagues. It’s spectacular.”

Simply a part of a formidable array of younger expertise that’s underneath contract to the Braves for years to return. That has the group dreaming of a number of championships for a metropolis starved for titles.

The Braves’ two World Collection are all Atlanta groups have ever received within the 4 main North American skilled sports activities leagues. The NFL’s Falcons and NBA’s Hawks are nonetheless searching for their first crowns.

“The No. 1 factor I fear about is being sustainable,” Anthopoulos informed reporters after the Harris signing. “After I first acquired to Atlanta, I listened to speak radio and tried to get a really feel for the town, the market. I bear in mind seeing Mercedes-Benz (Stadium, dwelling of the Falcons) half empty halfway by way of a season and the Atlanta Falcons had been taking part in within the Tremendous Bowl two years earlier. It was eye-opening to me. I don’t need us to ever be in that place.”