The Braves shouldn’t trade Sean Murphy or Drake Baldwin

I guess this is a hot take around some parts of Braves Country, but the club shouldn’t trade either one of Sean Murphy or Drake Baldwin.

I’m not even quite sure why some fans in Atlanta can’t comprehend that having two top 10 catchers in baseball is a luxury. There isn’t a better catching duo in baseball right now, and some fans want Alex Anthopoulos to ship one of them out, with Murphy being the more popular choice.

Before I dig into it, it’s hilarious that those Braves fans want to ship off the proven All-Star too. Baseball is a hard game, and though Baldwin has experienced insane levels of early success, a 170 OPS+ (70% above league average) isn’t sustainable.

But I digress because it doesn’t matter; the Braves shouldn’t trade either one of their top 10 catchers. Yes, the club boasts two top 10 catchers in baseball, according to fWAR, with Murphy recording 1.0 fWAR (9th) and Baldwin (4th) 1.4 fWAR, both in 29 games.

After a career-worst 2024 campaign, Murphy has bounced back in the exact fashion the Braves figured he would. His .848 OPS is 33% above league average, not just for catchers but for all hitters. More importantly, the Braves’ pitching staff has an absolutely unreal ERA with Murphy behind the dish.

Not to be outdone by the rookie, though. Sure, Baldwin provides less than Murphy defensively, but he’s slashing a ridiculous .357/.400/.583 through his first 29 games. His uncanny approach at the plate is something to behold. Baldwin can hit for power and contact to all fields, takes his walks, and doesn’t chase outside of the zone.

Regardless of who is catching, the Braves have an elite backstop in the lineup every single night. Once again, that’s a luxury. I will concede; there’s a scenario in which Alex Anthopoulos would weigh a trade.

The Braves don’t have many holes, but shortstop is a glaring one. If the club could flip one of their star catchers for a long-term answer at the position, it would be worth mulling over. However, that’s not a deal that is clear and obvious right now.

Don’t listen to these Atlanta radio heads who say the Braves should flip Murphy or Baldwin for a reliever because it’s the weakest facet of the club right now on paper. Both are worth far more than a high-leverage bullpen piece. Catchers who are plus defenders and hitters don’t grow on trees. More than 20 teams would be calling Anthopoulos if the Braves wanted to trade Sean Murphy or Drake Baldwin.

Of course, the team needs to bolster the bullpen, but they can accomplish that for a hell of a lot less than an All-Star catcher. If Baldwin keeps this up, it won’t be crazy to say the Braves have two top 5 catchers in baseball. And Sean Murphy is reminding fans that the 2024 season was an anomaly.

Figuring out how to get both in the lineup is a good problem to have, and 2025 won’t be the most efficient use of their talents. A lot of fans have been clamoring to trot Baldwin out in left field, which quickly had water poured on it by Anthopolos. I think an experiment like that is virtually set up to fail in the middle of the season, but perhaps the club tries it out this offseason.

Marcell Ozuna is a free agent after this season, so if the Braves want to use that $16 million on the pitching staff and allow one of Murphy or Baldwin to DH in 2026, that could be an option. The Big Bear has been the Braves most productive hitter over the last two seasons, though, and his presence in the clubhouse is invaluable. If he’s open to returning on a short-term deal, that should be on the table as well.

Hoarding a bunch of great hitters shouldn’t be seen as a misuse of resources. The pitching staff needs to be bolstered, and it’s a hard decision to make for Anthopoulos, but the goal should obviously be to maximize their assets.

One way not to do that is by moving an elite catcher for an elite reliever. That would be a gross use of resources. For now, the Braves will be starting one of the best catchers in baseball every single night.