Atlanta keeps adding catching depth in curious fashion.
What exactly are the Atlanta Braves up to at catcher?
As Sean Murphy progresses in his rehab assignment at Triple-A, his return to the 26-man roster look likely to happen within the next 7 to 10 days. The fractured rib he sustained after being drill by an errant pitch in Spring Training caused him to miss Opening Day and accelerated the timing of top prospect Drake Baldwin’s major league debut.
Baldwin has looked good behind the plate and in the batter’s box. He traditional stats don’t show it; but the underlying metrics and the old school eye ball test show a player who, at 24-years-old, is ready to stick on the big league roster.
Chadwick Tromp, the team’s third catcher the past few seasons, was slated to begin 2025 as Atlanta’s back-up to Murphy – but instead, he has been that for Baldwin. Tromp is out of options – and he might be out of a roster spot when Murphy returns.
Which returns to the question of what exactly are the Braves doing behind the plate?
Coming into Spring Training, the team brought back Sandy Leon – an 11-year MLB veteran – as catching depth. He was with Triple-A Gwinnett last season and returned there this year. The team brought in, and released, fellow 11-year vet Curt Casali during Spring Training.
After passing on Casali, the team brought in yet another 11-year veteran in James McCann. McCann spent most of his career as a starter – before transitioning to a back-up in the last couple of seasons – but had lingered on the free agent market like fellow Braves signees Alex Verdugo and Craig Kimbrel.
Then on Thursday, the team picked up Jason Delay in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates after he was designated for assignment. Delay was a back-up for several seasons with the Pirates, but has a shorter MLB resume that the other primary members of the Braves Triple-A catching corps.
No team can have too much depth – remember the 2021 Braves used seven catchers during the season – but with Murphy soon-to-return, Baldwin ready for regular playing time now, McCann a viable big league back-up option, Leon at Triple-A, Delay being sent to Double-A and Tromp a possible DFA candidate, it could be nothing more than the Braves insulating themselves from injuries and the loss of Tromp.
But could it be something else?
With the Braves having an unsettled outfield situation with Ronald Acuña, Jr. yet to return from last year’s knee surgery and starting left fielder Jurickson Profar suspended for 80 games for PEDs, the Braves are running with presumed back-ups pressed into starting duty at both outfield corners.
Could the addition of Delay add credence to the possibility that the team is considering trying Drake Baldwin in left field? If they want to keep his bat in the line-up, might the team do what they did with Evan Gattis in 2013 or for a single game (before reversing course) in 2022 with William Contreras and shift the catcher to the outfield?
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
After an 0-7 start to the season and with Acuña, Jr. at least six weeks away, the Braves could option Baldwin to the minors for a couple of weeks when Murphy returns and bring back Baldwin if he shows the ability to handle and outfield position in the minors.
Baldwin was a hockey player in high school and the Braves has shown a willingness to play a sub-par defensive outfielder in left field – including adding Profar as a free agent who is not known for his defensive prowess.
Could it be a trade?
It seems outlandish to think that the Braves could move on from Murphy after signing him to an extension upon his arrival via a trade from Oakland. But, if the Braves think Baldwin is ready now – and if they have a team interested in Murphy – could Atlanta roll with Baldwin and Tromp or McCann? Again, that seems unlikely, but given the team’s seemingly sudden lack of payroll flexibility and needs in the bullpen, rotation and outfield, it is plausible even if not likely.
Maybe it is just depth, right?
Atlanta deciding to go with Murphy and Tromp, adding Delay to McCann and Leon with Baldwin heading back to Triple-A to catch every day seems … unlikely?
The Braves going with Murphy and Baldwin seems the most obvious route at this point but could result in the organization losing Tromp to another team. That seems like the most likely option.
So it is probably just depth.
Unless it’s not.