"We all like what he has been building" - Braves star Matt Olson thrilled with Alex Anthopoulos' contract extension
The Atlanta Braves announced the extension of General Manager Alex Anthopoulos' contract until 2031 and infielder Matt Olson spoke to reporters about his excitement at the news. The GM was entering the final year of his previous contract with the side after being promoted to president of baseball operations, and has now been extended for another eight years. Olson himself is coming off an impressive season under the GM.
Matt Olson made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2016 and was a mainstay in their lineup for the next six years. He was then traded to the Braves in 2022 and has taken his career to new heights since then, finishing as the MLB home run and RBI leader last season.
Alex Anthopoulos is a Canadian baseball executive who started his career with the Montreal Expos before becoming the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. In 2017, he was hired as GM by the Braves organization and led the team to the World Series title in 2021.
Anthopoulos is a well-respected figure in the clubhouse and the Braves first baseman was quick to back up his general manager. In a recent interview with reporters, Olson said:
"I think we all like what he has been building and hopefully continue to have success."
How will Matt Olson follow up on a historic season with the Braves?
Matt Olson produced one of the best seasons ever seen by an Atlanta Braves player in the MLB last year. He broke the franchise record for home runs by launching 54 HRs in the regular season, also finishing as the MLB home run and RBI leader in the process.
However, it is not easy to follow a season like that, and Olson is lucky to have a talented team around him. He formed an impressive partnership with Austin Riley last season and looks well-equipped to handle the pressure next season.