"The Braves haven't had too fun of a time lately. Neither has Austin Riley. This isn't a pure coincidence - a thermonuclear Austin Riley can carry a team for a month, and the Braves haven't gotten that, for one reason or another, for a while. While the team has maneuvered to be different in terms of coaching and roster construction in 2026, Riley's production is going to be a big part of whatever the team's fortune will be going forward."
"2026 will be Riley's eighth MLB season; he'll turn 29 right around Opening Day. For his career, he has a 122 wRC+ and below-average defense. He's solidly in well-above-average territory with a career 3.5 fWAR per 600 PAs to date, but that's very much an average, as he had three straight 5+ fWAR seasons from 2021-2023 but has managed just 4.1 fWAR in his last two seasons combined."
"Riley holds the most lucrative contract in Braves history, signing a $212 million, ten-year deal that includes a club option for an eleventh season in August 2022. He's due to make $22 million annually in 2026 and every year onward through 2032; his club option has a $20 million salary with no buyout. As noted, Riley's production took a dip in 2024 and then again in 2025."
Austin Riley enters his eighth MLB season at age 29 with a career 122 wRC+ and below-average defensive metrics. He averaged 3.5 fWAR per 600 PAs for his career, buoyed by three straight 5+ fWAR campaigns from 2021–2023, but produced only 4.1 fWAR across 2024–2025. An xwOBA underperformance inflated perceptions of decline in 2024, and a hit-by-pitch ended a strong midseason stretch that year. His xwOBA fell further in 2025. Riley carries a $212 million, ten-year contract with a club option, and his 2026 offensive rebound will strongly influence the Braves' outlook.
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