The Atlanta Braves are keeping two of their biggest stars. The team exercised a $17 million option on outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. on Thursday. It also picked up a $7 million option on second baseman Ozzie Albies.

Both moves were expected. Each player is a bargain at those prices compared with what they could earn on the open market.

Acuña is a five-time All-Star and won the National League MVP award in 2023. He signed a $100 million, eight-year deal in 2019. That contract had a 2027 option with a $10 million buyout plus a $17 million option for 2028 with no buyout.

An up-and-down year for Acuña

Acuña is 28. He hit .255 this season with 20 home runs, 55 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

Injuries cost him a big chunk of the summer. A strained left hamstring kept him out from May 2 to May 19. He then missed time again from June 10 to July 27.

Albies never missed a game

Albies is 29 and a four-time All-Star. He signed a $35 million, seven-year deal in 2019 that included team options for 2026 and 2027.

He batted a career-low .237 this year but still hit 22 homers with 73 RBIs. Albies was one of just seven players in the majors to appear in all 162 of his team's games.

With both players locked in, Atlanta can focus the rest of its offseason on adding pieces around its familiar core.