FanSided’s Cody Williams recently predicted the Atlanta Braves would make the bold decision to cut ties with star catcher Sean Murphy ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.
“Most good defensive catchers aren’t hitting, and most who can hit are subpar defensively,” Williams wrote. “So, the fact that the Braves have Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin both on the roster should make the former expendable given the circumstances. “Baldwin’s emergence as a rookie has been one of the bright spots of the Braves season. And yes, there is always a need for big-league catcher depth given the rigors of the position and the need for rest days.
“At the same time, there is a crunch for playing time between Baldwin and Murphy, and the latter is far more expensive on a deal that runs through 2028 with a club option for 2029. With the league-wide need for catching, Murphy could demand a pretty penny on the market.”
Murphy hasn’t been involved in many trade rumors this year, but this idea could make sense for a few reasons.
The top reason the Braves could consider this idea is the emergence of rookie catcher Drake Baldwin. Baldwin looks to be a future star behind the dish for the Braves, and it seems like a bit of a waste to roster him and Murphy both, especially since only one of the two can catch at a time.
The second reason the Braves could consider this idea is Murphy’s incredible trade value.
If Murphy lands on the market, he’s the clear top catcher on the market. There are a few teams around baseball who are contending for a postseason spot that could also use a star catcher. It would likely cost quite a bit to pull the star from Atlanta.
At the end of the day, the idea of a Murphy trade will revolve around what his value is on the open market. If there’s a team in the league that’s willing to pay top dollar for the star catcher, a trade could come to fruition. If not, the Braves will likely hold onto him.
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