Ranking each piece of Atlanta Braves young core after Harris extension

Michael Harris II just signed a long-term extension with the Atlanta Braves, but where does he rank among the many team’s star-studded young core? 

Somehow, someway, the Atlanta Braves keep signing players to long-term extensions that bring cost certainty to the Braves, long-term security to players, and enormous happiness for the fans. Hey, 29 other MLB teams, this is how you set up a long-term winner without spending egregious amounts of money and how to develop a sustainable winning pathway for a franchise.

The Braves recently signed rising star and potential NL Rookie of the Year winner Michael Harris II to an 8-year contract extension worth $72 million with two option years. This brings his team control through at least 2030, which is the same as Austin Riley (who signed a couple of weeks ago) and Matt Olson. Since 2019, the Braves have signed Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Matt Olsen, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Ozzie Albies to team-friendly long-term contracts.

That’s an enviable core of players for any franchise as each of those guys is in their early to mid-20s. Acuna is 24, Harris is 21, Riley is 25, Olson is 28, and Albies is 25. Each of those guys is in their prime for at least the next half-decade. Name another team that can reliably predict at least five batters to contend for All-Star nominations and awards on cheap salaries for the next half-decade.

Atlanta has put baseball on notice with these five recent extensions proving that they can be done and this is how you build a truly sustainable winner in MLB. So, where do these five core players rank in terms of the Braves’ future?

Atlanta Braves: Ranking the team’s young core of stars

5. Ozzie Albies, Second Base

Ozzie Albies has been a strong second baseman when healthy for the Braves. He’s a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner since debuting in 2017 at 20 years old. Having a strong offensive player at second base is a luxury rather than a necessity. It’s great to have and Albies is certainly a great player.

This is splitting hairs between these five talented players. However, Albies has the lowest amount of contractual control and has battled injuries in two of the last three years. This year, he fractured his foot after a foul ball in June and still hasn’t returned in mid-August. He was having a down year too compared to other seasons.

Yet, having a second baseman with a career of 15.2 WAR over six seasons so far who’s only 25 and provides good defense is an incredible thing to have. He has hit 98 home runs, 152 doubles, 344 RBI, and 63 stolen bases with a .791 OPS in his career. Albies is a great centerpiece to build around, but the Atlanta Braves just happen to have better ones, if only by a hair.