The Atlanta Braves have signed star third baseman Austin Riley to a 10-year, $212 million contract, the most lucrative in team history, and surprised him by getting three additional seasons under club control.
The deal begins in 2023 and runs through the ’32 season, and includes a $20 million club option for 2033. Riley also agreed to donate $2.12 million to the Atlanta Braves Foundation, according to the team.
The news comes just weeks after the 25-year-old Riley appeared in his first All-Star Game. He is currently hitting .301 with 29 home runs and 68 RBIs with a .964 OPS in 101 games this season. His 61 extra-base hits led the way and included 26 in July — breaking Hank Aaron’s previous franchise record by one (1961).
Riley currently has the second-lowest odds to win the NL MVP at +500 behind Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals (-140).
Riley was a first-round pick of the Braves in 2015.
He made his major league debut four years later and broke out last season, finishing seventh in NL MVP voting after hitting .303 with 33 home runs and 107 RBI.
By extension, Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr. And Ozzie Albies’ young core for the Braves is now signed through at least 2025 (Albies’ contract runs through 2025, with team options in 2026 and ’27; Acuña’s contract runs through 2026, with team options in 2027 and ’28). All three are 25 or younger.
