Marcell Ozuna's MLB Free Agency Decision is Good News for Sean Murphy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Feb 9, 2026 2:52 PM ET

In his seventh big‑league season, Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy had his most disappointing year with the organization.

Murphy arrived in Atlanta during the 2022 offseason in a blockbuster three‑team deal with the Athletics, expected to become the Braves’ long‑term answer behind the plate.

However, Atlanta now appears to have a new catcher of the future in Drake Baldwin, who took home National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2025.

That shift has led many to wonder whether Murphy’s tenure with the Braves is nearing its end, yet it appears he will remain with the club at least to begin the upcoming season.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12)© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

There is understandable curiosity about his future. Murphy has struggled to stay healthy, appearing in just 94 games last year and set to miss the start of 2026 while recovering from hip surgery.

His production also dipped, as the 31‑year‑old posted a .199 batting average, .300 on‑base percentage, .709 OPS, 16 home runs and 45 RBIs. Those numbers were far from the standard he set earlier in his career when he was an All‑Star and Gold Glove Award winner.

However, Murphy received good news regarding his path to playing time on Monday. Former Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna agreed to a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in free agency, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, officially ending his six‑year run in Atlanta.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a one-year, $12 million contract with a mutual option for 2027, sources tell ESPN. The deal will pay Ozuna $10.5M this year with a $16M option that has a $1.5M buyout. @JonHeyman was first on the news.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 9, 2026

There are several reasons why this development benefits Murphy. With Ozuna no longer locked into the designated hitter role, Murphy should still have opportunities to receive at‑bats there even with Baldwin’s emergence.

It also gives new manager Walt Weiss a way to ease Murphy back from injury without immediately placing a heavy workload on him behind the plate. The added flexibility allows the Braves to manage Murphy’s recovery while still maximizing Baldwin’s playing time.

If Murphy can regain the form he showed earlier in his career, it would be a significant boost for a Braves team aiming to rebound quickly in 2026.

His defense, power potential and experience remain valuable, and the opening at DH provides a clearer path for him to contribute. For now, Murphy remains part of Atlanta’s plans, and the door is open for him to reestablish himself as an important piece of the roster.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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