Braves lose veteran backstop amid trade deadline speculation

Over the weekend, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Braves have released James McCann from his minor league contract as the veteran backstop inks a major league deal with the Diamondbacks.

McCann’s contract with the Braves contained a rolling opt-out clause that forced Atlanta to either offer him a contract to the active roster or release him if another team offered the catcher a guaranteed deal.

Most notably, McCann’s time in Atlanta will be remembered for voicing his and his teammates’ displeasure for how the organization handled Craig Kimbrel. If you’re unfamiliar, let me jog your memory.

After biding his time in Triple-A Gwinnett while the bullpen blew late-game leads, Kimbrel was eventually called upon during the trip to San Francisco. The 37-year-old didn’t look crisp, but he held the Giants to a scoreless frame.

The day after his only appearance, the Braves designated Kimbrel for assignment, recalling little-known reliever Austin Cox to replace him. The future Hall of Fame reliever isn’t who he once was, but the entire process was not typical of how the Braves have typically carried themselves.

It seemed the fan base’s reaction wasn’t singular. The Braves’ handling of Craig Kimbrel’s return wasn’t appreciated in the organization either, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.

“That really frustrated me and a lot of the guys in our locker room were very frustrated with it,” James McCann said of Atlanta’s handling of Kimbrel. “It was strange to call him up for a day and DFA him. He’s not just a run-of-the-mill reliever who became a journeyman after two or three years in the big leagues. He’s a future Hall of Famer.”

In a different vein, McCann’s release impacts the Braves in more ways than one. Well, at least, the fans who think the club could trade Sean Murphy.

Sandy Leon and Jason Delay are still sitting in Triple-A Gwinnett, but McCann was slashing .297/.331/.493 with the Stripers. He was by far and away the Braves’ best option for a backup in Atlanta if the club were to trade one of Sean Murphy or Drake Baldwin.

It was always far-fetched that the Braves would trade one of their catchers, but what’s even more asinine is fans believing it’s now a foregone conclusion that they won’t because James McCann is out of the organization.

The two aren’t related in any way. The Braves are unlikely to trade Murphy or Baldwin at this year’s deadline, and even if Anthopoulos was mulling it over, McCann’s presence had nothing to do with the end result.