Braves' Ozzie Albies almost certain to return for final season due to $4 million contract reason

The Atlanta Braves are facing major changes this offseason, from the manager position to free-agent decisions. It will be a crucial winter as the team works to preserve its championship window. However, for Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies, a new manager could turn out to be their worst nightmare.

“Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy are great examples of players who haven't lived up to expectations over the last two years and still remained in the lineup. It is easy to see a new manager lacking this same patience with failing pieces. This is especially the case with players who have already been on thin ice for more than two seasons,” ATL All Day’s Nick Halden wrote.

The Braves still need to make a decision regarding Albies and his contract. Earlier in the season, GM Alex Anthopoulos hinted at some uncertainty surrounding Albies’ future.

“With all these options (on players), we always make the decision at the end of the year — you have five days after the World Series, and that’s when you make the decision. It’s just, things can happen, things change. You always wait,” Anthopoulos said.

Albies has a $4 million buyout in his contract, making it likely that Atlanta will bring him back.

“The only other position player who has a club option attached to his name is second baseman Ozzie Albies. Last season was a down year (albeit injury driven) for Curacao native, but the team would only save $3 million if they declined Ozzie's option. That is because his $7 million club option comes with a $4 million buyout, meaning Ozzie is almost certainly returning as the Braves second baseman next season,” HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote.

Albies playing for another team just seems odd, which is why his return to Atlanta makes so much sense. As the offseason continues, it increasingly appears that Albies will be back for at least one more season. A productive and healthy year could extend his tenure in Atlanta even further.

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