For the last three years, the Atlanta Braves have watched as their investment in Sean Murphy has continued to grow into more of a liability. The backstop is currently on the injured list, a familiar landing spot for a player who has either been an offensive liability or shelved, dealing with a laundry list of recent injuries. It is a rare contract miss from a front office that has consistently found incredible bargains and found ways to put together a winning team with overlooked contributors.
Mauricio Dubon, Jorge Mateo, Martin Perez, and Dominic Smith are just the most recent examples of this trait. With that said, there is no denying that Murphy's contract was a mistake, as it has been three years since the veteran was able to hit above the Mendoza line or stay on the field and offer anything close to capable production.
Atlanta has three years remaining on Murphy's deal, with each of the next two years being a guaranteed $15 million, with the final year being a club option. What the Braves must decide over the next few weeks is if they are ready to punt on the catcher or deny what they have watched and hope there is a return to 2023 when Murphy was among the league's most consistent catching options.
Braves Have Upcoming Difficult Decision with Veteran Catcher Sean Murphy
In 2023, Murphy drove in 68 runners and scored 65 runs while offering consistent power production. This version of the hitter paired with Drake Baldwin would give the Braves an unbeatable lineup, clearly poised to make a World Series run. This has been the hope Atlanta has held onto over the past three seasons, with it being time to make a decision that likely isn't going to come around again if the Braves wait out another year of the deal.
Murphy either needs to be dealt at this year's trade deadline as a salary dump, or the franchise needs to understand it will run out of time to get away from the deal if the results don't change. Trading away a player at their lowest value is rarely ideal, but with Drake Baldwin rostered and Atlanta needing to open up future salary space, it makes a great deal of sense.
The difficult part is whether the Braves will be willing to punt on a veteran they so aggressively signed as a piece of the team's future. Admitting defeat even in the middle of a stellar season isn't going to be easy, even if it is very easy to argue that it is the obvious decision.
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