5:00 PM UTC
ATLANTA — President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has secured many of the Braves’ top players throughout most of this decade. So, it only made sense for the club to extend him the same kind of security.
Anthopoulos’ long-term future in Atlanta was solidified on Friday, when the Braves announced his contract had been extended through 2031.
“Alex and I have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship, and I look forward to that continuing for many years to come,” Braves chairman and CEO of Braves Holdings, LLC, Terry McGuirk said. “I have been around this game a very long time and know that Alex’s track record of success is truly something special. There is simply no one better in the business. This extension gives Alex the runway to make long-term decisions and the opportunity to continue his track record of assembling teams that are perennial contenders. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to deliver championship baseball for our fans well into the future.”
Anthopoulos joined the Braves at the end of the 2017 season, a little more than a month after an international market scandal had forced the ouster of former baseball operations leaders John Hart and John Coppolella. It was one of the lowest points in organization history.
Remembering where the Braves stood when he arrived adds to the splendor of Anthopoulos’ success. The team has won the National League East during each of his six seasons in Atlanta. The highlight of this tenure occurred in 2021, when his great work at the Trade Deadline helped the Braves win the World Series without Ronald Acuña Jr., who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in July.
“I’d like to thank Terry for his continued support and trust,” Anthopoulos said. “The Braves are an incredible organization to be a part of, and I’m proud of the success we’ve achieved together. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead baseball operations and to strive to bring another World Series to Atlanta.”
Anthopoulos’ vision has created the possibility for the Braves to remain among the elite teams for many years to come. His trend of locking up his young stars began in 2019, when he gave extensions to Acuña and Ozzie Albies. Acuña has club options that will pay him $17 million in both the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Albies has club options that will pay him $7 million in both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, Michael Harris II, Acuña and Albies are also set to remain with the club through at least 2027. Riley is guaranteed through 2032 and Harris is guaranteed through 2030. Olson has a team option for 2030.
In other words, Anthopoulos will be seeing plenty of familiar faces over the span of this extension.
