In a room at Truist Park, Spencer Strider and Alex Anthopoulos sat next to one another as everyone settled in for yet another press conference about a contract extension that further solidified the team’s core.
Around the ballpark, everyone readied for the Braves’ workout ahead of Game 1 of the National League Division Series versus the Phillies. The press conference room was packed with media here to cover the postseason. Brian Snitker, Dansby Swanson, Travis d’Arnaud and Max Fried would soon follow Strider and Anthopoulos.
There is postseason buzz at this place.
And in a way, this symbolizes why Strider and others have signed these contract extensions: Nowadays, playing for the Braves offers you a chance to win every year.
“That’s sort of the motivation in trying to get something like this done is just to be around the guys that (Alex) has put together and the commitment to winning not just right now but in the future with the guys that are in this clubhouse is very obvious and that means a lot to me,” Strider said. “It’s very cool and humbling to have the opportunity to stay here.”
The Braves on Monday announced that they signed Strider to a six-year contract worth $75 million that runs through the 2028 season. The deal for the right-handed pitcher includes a $22 million club option for 2029 with a $5 million buyout. Strider will make $1 million per season for 2023-2024, $4 million in 2025, $20 million in 2026, and $22 million per season in 2027-2028. The deal will be worth $92 million over seven years if the option is exercised.
The Braves are putting a lot of faith in the right-hander, and he intends to deliver.
“My goal is always to outperform any expectations,” Strider said. “There’s nobody that has higher aspirations or expectations for performance than myself. And so in that way I don’t feel any pressure. The expectation is that I outperform any contract I ever sign.”
Led by Anthopoulos, their president of baseball operations, the Braves have committed to keeping their core and building a sustainable winner. In Strider’s case, Anthopoulos implied that if a deal had not been done by Monday, it would have probably been pushed to the offseason.
In September, Anthopoulos reached out to Frontline Athlete Management, the agency that represents Strider. The executive wanted to gauge Strider’s interest level in a contract extension. The sides began discussing a long-term extension.
The Braves’ initial offer, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, was not close to what the sides ended up agreeing on in the end. The difficult part for the agency: It had to ensure Strider’s compensation reflected his unprecedented and historic contributions.
Strider posted a 2.67 ERA over 31 games (20 starts) in the regular season. He struck out 202 batters over 131-2/3 innings, and would have tallied more punchouts had he not suffered a strained oblique.
Strider became the fastest pitcher to 200 strikeouts in a single season in MLB history, reaching the mark in his 130th inning. He became the third rookie in franchise history – and the 16th in the history of the sport – to strike out at least 200 batters in a season.
All of this had to be reflected in his deal.
The agency performed its own valuation of Strider by speculating on what he could have earned in arbitration in the future, then in free agency. His new contract includes two free-agent years – one is the sixth and final year of the agreement, the other is the club option.
The deal benefits both sides. The Braves get two extra seasons of Strider, and he will be paid more than he would have been in arbitration.
Here’s some context: Mets ace Jacob deGrom earned $17 million in 2019, which was his final year of arbitration. He was coming off a Cy Young Award – and while Strider has the talent to win one, it’s no guarantee. Strider will make $20 million in 2026 (which would have been his second arbitration year) and $22 million in 2027 (his third arbitration year).
Strider would have been a free agent entering his age-29 season. He’ll now hit free agency going into his age-31 season. He sacrificed two free-agent years, but will be compensated much better than he would have in arbitration. In short, he earns the money sooner by taking this deal. The Braves, on the other hand, have him for at least two more seasons by signing him to this contract.
The Braves also deserve credit for continuing to solidify the nucleus of their team. They are among the best in baseball at recognizing talent, and then spending to keep it. They have extended Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Strider this year alone.
“It’s great,” Snitker said. “I think Alex has done a great job. And I think he’s done a great job in identifying these because they’re all really good people. They’re quality young men. They’re dedicated to what they’re doing. They’re consistent in what they’re doing. And I think it’s good. I mean, when you identify the talent that these guys have and to get them -- it’s good for the room, I think, in there, in that clubhouse, to know these guys are going to be all together for a while.
“I’m happy for Spencer. Since I’ve gotten to know him over the course of the year, I continue to be more and more impressed by him, just the total person.”
Strider, who is trying to return from the oblique strain, threw off the mound on Monday and felt well. Snikter said the Braves are still deciding on whether he will pitch in the NLDS. If he did, the Braves would receive a huge boost against the Phillies.
Strider prioritized pitching for a contender. It’s one reason he was open to discussing an extension with the Braves. He wants to win championships.
During Strider’s press conference, some of his teammates sat toward the back of the room. This has been the case for press conferences for players who have received contract extensions this season.
This served as a symbol of why Strider wanted to stay in Atlanta.
“Means everything in the world,” Strider said. “That’s the motivation in trying to get something like this done is to be here and stay with the people that I come to work with every day. And I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. And it’s the people that really make this a great place.”
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