Drake Baldwin -- General News

Drake Baldwin, the Atlanta Braves' 96th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, is positioning himself as a generational talent at the catcher position. After winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2025, the 25-year-old has continued his excellence in 2026, posting a .922 OPS with improved walk rate (9.6%) and isolated power (.218) across 147 at-bats. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, while the Braves haven't begun serious negotiations on a contract extension, an eventual deal could reset the catcher market.

Currently, Cal Raleigh commands the highest average annual value among catchers at $17.5 million, with only Raleich and Dodgers star Will Smith signed to contracts worth $100 million or more. Baldwin's combination of age, talent, and continued performance makes him likely to surpass these benchmarks. Rosenthal suggests Baldwin could exceed the current catcher AAV record of $23.1 million, potentially signing a 5+ year deal worth approximately $120 million total.

The Braves face no urgency in negotiations. Baldwin won't become arbitration-eligible until after the 2027 season, with additional team control remaining afterward. He won't reach free agency until 2030, providing Atlanta substantial time to negotiate a long-term extension with their emerging franchise cornerstone.

Drake Baldwin, the Atlanta Braves' young catcher who won National League Rookie of the Year in 2025, continues to perform at an elite level in his second season. With the team at 26-12 and Baldwin likely headed for All-Star selection, speculation has grown about a potential contract extension. Previously, reports indicated no formal extension talks had occurred between Baldwin's representatives and the Braves organization. However, GM Alex Anthopoulos addressed the situation during a radio appearance on 680 The Fan, offering cautious optimism. He stated the team loves Baldwin as a player and expects him to remain with the organization long-term, though declined to provide specifics on extension timing, noting that such negotiations vary by player. According to reporting, Baldwin remains under team control for four additional seasons beyond 2026. Baldwin has established himself as the clear starting catcher after taking the position from Sean Murphy, and his continued strong performance throughout the season makes an extension likely, though the Braves organization remains characteristically secretive about specific contract negotiations.

Drake Baldwin, the Atlanta Braves' catcher and 2025 Rookie of the Year, continues to excel this season but has received disappointing news regarding a potential contract extension. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves have not yet seriously engaged Baldwin in discussions about a long-term extension. This represents a notable departure from the team's typical approach, as Atlanta has historically been proactive in signing promising young talent early—including players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris. At 25 years old, Baldwin is currently putting up MVP-caliber numbers: a .313 batting average, 9 home runs, 46 hits, and 33 runs scored (both leading MLB), along with 1.8 bWAR and a .922 OPS across 36 games. The Braves retain control of Baldwin through the 2030 season, but the lack of extension talks could allow the rising catcher to test free agency and potentially sign a lucrative deal elsewhere if no agreement is reached before his years of control expire.