The 2026 season has just started for Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy, and already fans have been reminded of the past two seasons of frustrations. Murphy is dealing with an injury after getting hit late in Sunday's game while being called for catcher's interference. While it seems the veteran is expected to be fine moving forward, there is nothing acceptable about his current level of play.
Murphy is as close to an automatic out as today's league has, hitting under the Mendoza line each of the past two seasons. For fans wanting to blame health for the backstop's failures, his first week with the team in the 2026 season has hardly reinforced this view.
Atlanta was extremely slow and cautious in easing Murphy back, and this was rewarded with the catcher going 1/14 with six strikeouts. Murphy is yet to draw a single walk, but has had no trouble piling up the swings and misses early in his season. All of this serves as a reminder that it might be time for Atlanta to call it quits on a player that simply isn't living up to expectations.
Trading Murphy between now and August's trade deadline makes a great deal of sense for both sides. This isn't an overreaction to a bad week, but two years of offensive misery and a frustration in the middle of what has been an incredibly fun and potent Atlanta lineup. It is time to give Murphy a chance to reset with a change of scenery and for Atlanta to find another answer.
Braves Must Part Ways with Sean Murphy if Catcher's Offensive Struggles Continue
Atlanta needs to attempt to find a team willing to take on $15 million in salary in both the 2027 and 2028 seasons. This is a big part of the reason why the franchise cannot afford to wait, understanding the cost of Murphy in comparison to the offensive production. Jonah Heim was providing more value for the Braves at the plate for a fraction of the cost.
The Braves would be wise to free up this money and attempt to utilize it to shore up another area of weakness. Drake Baldwin is more than capable of handling starting duties behind the plate with any number of veteran catchers the Braves could target, offering both a discount in price and more consistency at the plate.
For Murphy, there has to be some level of understanding that if things don't turn around soon, this is very much on the table. Atlanta has a great roster capable of chasing a World Series at the end of the 2026 season, and Murphy is a clear weakness. If this level of struggle continues, there is no doubt that exploring a trade is the right decision and frees up valuable space to spend on a player capable of hitting above the Mendoza line.
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