Braves' Spencer Strider gets $200 million contract update amid injuries

The Atlanta Braves have made some smart decisions over the past few years with some other top young players. That was the case with Spencer Strider, whom they decided to skip arbitration with and sign to a six-year, $75 million deal. 

The Braves have a team option in 2029, so he'll hit free agency after that season or the 2030 campaign. 

However, for the Braves, it's tough to understand where things might stand with Strider. When he's on the mound and healthy, one could argue that he's one of the top five pitchers in Major League Baseball. 

Unfortunately, the injuries are very concerning, throwing in just 14.0 innings over the past two seasons. 

Despite that reality, ESPN's Jeff Passan believes he could be looking at a $200-plus million deal in free agency, adding that if things go as well as they can, he could even land $300 million. 

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“Strider's six-year, $75 million extension signed in October 2022 set a record for a pitcher with such little service time. Should the Braves exercise a club option in 2029, it will put Strider onto the market at 31 -- the same age as his former Braves teammate Max Fried was when he got eight years and $218 million from the Yankees last winter. When he's healthy, Strider is even better than Fried, and if he can sustain his stuff, he might be a better bet for the $300 million club,” he wrote.

$300 million or $200 million for Strider, at this point, might be a bit questionable. 

However, the Braves know better than anybody that if they allowed him to walk in free agency eventually, and he’s still as dominant as he is when he's healthy, another team will give him the money he's looking for. 

With a career 3.47 ERA and 500 strikeouts throughout 334.2 innings, he's one of the premier starters in Major League Baseball.