3 Braves stealing money from the team thanks to bad contracts
2. Eddie Rosario crashed down to earth after signing his contract with Braves
Eddie Rosario was acquired at the trade deadline in 2021. He helped Atlanta win the NL East and eventually get to the World Series. His NLCS performance against the Dodgers is one Braves fans will never forget.
The outfielder had 14 hits in 25 at-bats including three home runs and nine RBI in the six-game series victory. Rosario wasn’t the only Brave to produce, but he was the NLCS MVP for a reason. There’s a very good chance they don’t win the Pennant, let alone the World Series, without him.
Thanks to his outstanding postseason, Rosario earned a two-year $18 million dollar deal. The terms of the deal aren’t horrible, but it’s not aging very well.
Rosario slashed .212/.259/.328 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 80 games this past season. Yes, he dealt with an eye issue which was corrected with surgery, but he had a .659 OPS in the 65 games he played since he returned from that injury.
Rosario is going to battle with Ozuna for starts in left field. It’s very possible he reverts back to the hitter he was in Minnesota, but recent performance suggests otherwise.
The contract isn’t going to ruin Atlanta but they could’ve used that $9 million towards a new deal for Dansby Swanson or perhaps a different outfielder. Don’t think Braves fans will be too upset though because of how instrumental he was in 2021.