Matt Olson, Braves Agree to 8-Year, $168M Contract Extension After Trade with A's

Matt Olson is going to be with the Atlanta Braves for the foreseeable future. 

The first baseman, who was recently traded to the team from the Oakland Athletics, signed an eight-year, $168 million extension Tuesday. 

Olson, 27, was excellent in the 2021 season, hitting .271 with 39 homers, 111 RBI, 101 runs and a .911 OPS. It was his second season with 30 or more homers and his fourth season with at least 20 dingers. 

The two-time Gold Glove winner and one-time All-Star has a tough task ahead of him, however: attempting to replace longtime Atlanta superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman, who will almost assuredly be signing elsewhere in free agency. 

Add in Olson's big new contract—and the fact that the Braves gave up outfielder Cristian Pache and minor league catcher Shea Langeliers and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes—and the pressure is on. 

"Freddie is obviously an amazing player," Olson told reporters Tuesday. "It's just not going to affect what I’m going to come here and do. I’m here to be Matt Olson."

Trying to replicate Freeman's career achievements—he's a five-time All-Star, one-time NL MVP, one-time champion and one-time Gold Glove Award winner—would be tough for any player. He's a club legend.

"He's been a cornerstone guy," Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson told ESPN's Buster Olney when talking about Freeman. "A guy who should have his number retired as an Atlanta Brave. That part is disappointing ... and at the same time, there's the friendship component."

"The best leaders show up," he added. "And he showed up every day, was consistent every day, and did what we needed, to be able to play and hold down first base."

But Olson is also five years younger than Freeman and just signed an extension two years before he could have hit free agency. 

For Atlanta, it was smart business. Olson should be an excellent player for years to come. But the human component—saying goodbye to a player like Freeman who has meant so much to the Braves organization—will sting nonetheless.