The Atlanta Braves are facing a number of offseason questions, including how to fill the designated hitter position. Veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna is slated to hit free agency, coming off one of the rougher seasons of his career. Re-signing Ozuna seems unlikely, leaving the franchise searching for another answer at a position that has long had an answer.
The easy solution is to add a cheap third catcher and utilize Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin consistently in the lineup together. However, that shouldn't be the path chosen, considering the limited upside of Murphy.
Braves Catchers Shouldn't Become Easy Answer to Designated Hitter Question
Back-to-back seasons, Murphy has been a hole in the lineup, struggling to hit above the Mendoza line. Opting to bring this level of production back and put it in the lineup every day as the answer isn't going to solve the obvious concerns with this roster. The Braves would be wiser to trade Murphy and bring in a second option at catcher while utilizing Baldwin as the consistent starter. Any other decision is going to risk the same frustrations that fans endured throughout the 2025 season.
If the Braves are serious about making meaningful changes, the front office must go out and add a difference maker. Whether it is a splashy move like bringing in former rival Pete Alonso or adding a defensive option at third in Alex Bregman, there are a myriad of options that must be explored. Re-signing Ozuna or bringing back both Murphy and Baldwin is embracing the failure that brought you here.
There is a reason why Atlanta's lineup faltered so heavily, and the biggest issue was hitters with zero situational hitting ability. Chief among them was a lack of situational hitting, unable to get runners over or put the ball in the air when needed. Murphy was a consistent source of this and often struck out or failed to make strong contact when the Braves needed it most.
As elite a defender and signal caller as Murphy might be, this level of offensive struggle cannot be excused. It sets up a clear path for Atlanta to explore trading the backstop and look to upgrade the lineup. If Baldwin's rookie year is any indication, it is no contest as to which player is a better contributor to the lineup.
Games | Plate Appearances | Hits | Home Runs | RBIs | Strikeouts | Walks | BA/OBP/SLG | WAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sean Murphy | 94 | 337 | 58 | 16 | 45 | 105 | 35 | .199/.300/.409 | 2.4 |
Drake Baldwin | 124 | 446 | 111 | 19 | 80 | 68 | 38 | .274/.341/.469 | 3.3 |
It's clear that the franchise must either opt to keep Murphy and find another answer at designated hitter, or trade away the veteran to help open salary space for a superior answer.
The Braves have too often been lazy or cheap when it comes to the lineup over the last three years. It is why Freddie Freeman is playing in the World Series while the Braves have been home for a month, and what set up the dumpster fire that was the 2025 season. It is time to turn the page and be willing to spend what it takes for Atlanta to win at a high level once again.