Braves urged to extend Ozzie Albies using Charlie Morton blueprint after blazing start to season

The Atlanta Braves are off to a hot start this season, and one of the players making a major impact is Ozzie Albies. Albies has battled injuries in previous years, but the Braves made the right decision in bringing him back for the 2026 season.

“The Braves are going to pick up their club option on infielder Ozzie Albies. The club hasn’t announced the decision yet, but president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the move in a radio appearance, per Mark Zinno of 92.9 The Game,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.

Albies is currently on a tear at the plate and is on pace for impressive numbers this season.

“The resurgence of Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies is proving to be a trend. He reached base twice on Tuesday night in the 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. His two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning provided late-game insurance. Albies is now on pace for 32 home runs and 97 RBIs this season. Neither stat would be a career-high, but both would be his best since his All-Star season in 2023, when he hit 33 home runs and drove in 109 runs,” SI’s Harrison Smajovitts wrote.

For Atlanta, the focus will be on retaining Albies long term. One potential strategy could mirror the approach the Braves used with former pitcher Charlie Morton.

“If the Braves hope to keep him beyond 2027, taking an approach similar to the extensions previously used with Charlie Morton may be worth considering. For those unfamiliar with the Morton contract approach, the Braves initially signed Charlie Morton to a one-year deal in 2020. However, he did not reach free agency until after the 2024 season, as the club repeatedly negotiated one-year extensions—often including a club option for the following year—during the final month of each season,” HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote.

The Braves do not want to lose a reliable player like Albies, who, when healthy, is one of the best second basemen in baseball. If Atlanta adopts the Morton approach it could structure deals year-to-year based on performance.

It’s a strategy that carries some risk, but it could also allow the team to manage its payroll more efficiently. The Braves will have an important decision to make regarding Albies’ future.

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