Matt Olson Signs $168 Million Deal With Braves

On the heels of a trade that sent him from the Oakland A’s to his hometown Atlanta Braves, Matt Olson has signed an eight-year, $168 million contract with his new club.

Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos phoned his new first baseman Monday after the acquisition and broke the news; a day later the deal was done.

To quote the nine-figure 27-year-old, it was a “whirlwind.” He added, “The stars kind of aligned perfectly.”

The deal runs through 2029 and comes with a $20 million team option for 2030 sans buyout.

The move clearly closes the Freddie Freeman chapter in Atlanta—a chapter that began with 24 at-bats in 2010 and culminated with the team’s World Series title last fall. Throughout, he totaled a .295/.384/.509/.893 line with 271 home runs and 941 RBI for a 138 OPS+ over 6,660 plate appearances (5,767 at-bats).

Olson’s pact is the largest in team history, surpassing… you guessed it: Freeman’s $135 million deal signed prior to the 2014 campaign.

He’ll make $15 million in 2022, $21 million in 2023, and then $22 million per for the rest of the contract.

“Obviously, I know Atlanta,” Olson said after the trade and before the deal. “It’s an amazing place, World Series champs, my hometown. If there was one place to go and leave here, that’s the place to do it. I’m excited about it.”

It was the first $100 million deal doled out since MLB’s lockout ended.