Good catchers are hard to come by in Major League Baseball, yet the Atlanta Braves have two viable everyday options. Only recently did the Braves play both Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin in the lineup together, but this needs to be a more regular occurrence.
Atlanta needs to take advantage of the rest of what is looking more and more like a lost season by answering some pressing questions about the future. One of the most important questions is surrounding the catching situation. That simple question is this: Is it possible to keep both Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy going forward?
Braves need to IL Marcell Ozuna and let both catchers play to gain clearer picture for 2026
The struggling Marcell Ozuna has been ice cold for about two full months now. Since the reports came out about Ozuna's hip injury, the correlation in his poor play has many fans clamoring for an IL stint to let the big bear rest up. On top of that an open DH slot would give Atlanta the opportunity to run a lineup with both Baldwin and Murphy penciled in.
The Braves entered Tuesday leading the National League in accumulated fWAR from their catchers. Rookie Baldwin has posted a 132 wRC+ in 196 plate appearances and Murphy has posted a 121 wRC+ in 203 plate appearances.
Getting Baldwin more plate appearances this season should be a top priority for Atlanta. Not only for Baldwin's development, but he could win the NL Rookie of the Year award should he keep producing. That would be huge for Atlanta as it would earn them a first round pick in next summer's MLB Draft.
Playing both Baldwin and Murphy also allows the front office see just how well having two All-Star caliber catchers get AB's in the DH role actually works out. The incentive to keep both catchers in 2026 is strong, but if you're bringing in an Ozuna-type who warrants all his at-bats in the DH spot losing Baldwin/Murphy AB's is a bit counterproductive.
Good catching is hard to come by, and should Atlanta look to get creative with the roster this offseason and trading Murphy could be the ace up Anthopoulos' sleeve. However, before we reach that point Atlanta first needs to find out how things will look in every possible direction they have to choose from. Carrying both Baldwin and Murphy is certainly possible for 2026, but Atlanta needs to utilize these final months to assess just how effective it can be.
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