While Sean Murphy performing well while out on rehab assignment could pay dividends for the Atlanta Braves' lineup soon, it does also pose a bit of a roster quandary for them. The Braves could play Murphy at DH on days when Atlanta is up against a lefty and at catcher during Drake Baldwin's off days, but getting proper usage out of a guy that the Braves are paying $15 million a year for feels like a lot of hoops to jump through for a questionable return.
Given everything Murphy has been through, the Braves may feel like they HAVE to try and get value for him. That could mean that they try to play him as much as possible, but it could also mean that Alex Anthopoulos seizes the opportunity that presents itself at the trade deadline.
A lot of teams would kill to have a catcher with the experience and upside that Murphy has, and the Braves don't strictly need him with Baldwin around. If the Braves were to put Murphy on the table at the trade deadline, one team that they really should call is the Reds, who have a number of potential packages that could be intriguing to the Braves.
The Braves and Reds match up surprisingly well on a potential Sean Murphy trade
The idea here is pretty straightforward. The shine has worn off with Murphy in Atlanta, and the emergence of Baldwin has made him an expensive and expendable asset. Cincinnati needs a short-term catching solution with Tyler Stephenson likely to leave and Alfredo Duno not quite ready to take the reins.
On the Reds' end, they are likely to need Atlanta to eat some of Murphy's contract. Exactly how much they want eaten would (and should) dictate how much the Braves should ask in return. However, with a farm system that is loaded with position-player talent and big league talent that could fill the Braves' needs, such as JJ Bleday, it feels extremely likely that the two teams could assemble a package that makes sense for everyone.
For the Braves, they just have to decide how much they value both what Murphy brings to the table as well as having a strong catching platoon. It is easy to watch Murphy's rehab and get excited, but the fact remains that he has only put up one good half of baseball since getting traded to Atlanta and has dealt with several injuries. If the Braves could help restock their farm system even more and/or address their need for a bat while getting at least some of Murphy's money off their books, that seems pretty close to worth it.
Odds are good that the Braves hold on to Murphy until at least the offseason. They would be selling low on him if they traded him now, and they might have a more expanded market for him if they wait (especially if he plays well). However, moving him at the deadline is something that Anthopoulos should absolutely explore, and the Reds seem like a great fit.
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