Braves Keep Acuna and Albies as Option Decisions Shape MLB's Open Market

The Atlanta Braves are keeping two of their core stars. Atlanta exercised team options on outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. at $17 million and infielder Ozzie Albies at $7 million as clubs across baseball finalised contract-option decisions on Monday, the day free agency formally got underway. The pair stay in Atlanta for a combined $24 million, a team-friendly price for two perennial All-Stars, and the decisions remove both men from the trade market for now. World Series champions Milwaukee kept catcher and World Series most valuable player William Contreras on a $15.5 million option, holding on to a central piece of their title-winning side. The option calls landed as players became eligible to sign with any team, against the backdrop of a collective bargaining agreement expiring on December 1 and an expected lockout that could stretch beyond Opening Day next year. For now, it is business as usual, with teams and players deciding on contract options that determine who returns and who jumps into free agency. Atlanta's move signals a desire to keep its championship-level core together, while Milwaukee's decision shows a champion side in no rush to break up the group that delivered its title.