The Atlanta Braves have already had to shuffle things around a good bit after word got out that catcher Drake Baldwin was headed to the injured list with an oblique injury. The Braves went out and brought Sandy Leon back into the fold, and called up Chadwick Tromp to help fill the void as well. It is far from a perfect solution, but it seems to be doing the job for now.
Of course, Atlanta doesn't want to leave anything to chance. In addition to Baldwin, Sean Murphy is also out with a broken finger, so there is literally no one to help if something happens to Leon (who is not a young man) and/or Tromp. So, when the opportunity to claim Maverick Handley off of waivers presented itself, the Braves jumped on it.
The #Braves today claimed C Maverick Handley off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Hurston Waldrep to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 21, 2026
Braves claim Maverick Handley off of waivers from the Orioles
Handley isn't exactly exciting, but he is a guy with some big league experience who actually knows how to catch. One shouldn't expect much from his bat, which is why Baltimore DFA'd Handley a couple of days ago, but he is a fine, defensive-oriented depth option that is fine to stash in the minor leagues in case of emergencies.
One shouldn't expect to see Handley in the majors anytime soon, as Leon and Tromp are both better options and ones that are actually familiar with Atlanta's pitching staff. However, at Leon's age and given the situation, there is a lot of wisdom in finding a younger catcher who knows how to play the position just in case things go even more sideways. If Handley sees time in the majors, something has gone wrong.
In theory, claiming Handley should allow the Braves to survive until Baldwin returns, although the return timeline for oblique strains of any grade is pretty sketchy and nebulous. If Baldwin's absence lingers longer than a few weeks, Atlanta may want to revisit their catching options. For now, this move does at least cover the Braves in the short term.
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