After a miserable first half of the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves are left with little choice but to sell ahead of this year's trade deadline. However, an important qualifier in this approach is understanding that this is a reset, not a rebuild.
The Braves need to find teams willing to take on expiring deals and pieces that no longer factor into future plans. If the starting rotation can ever stay healthy and a bit of positive regression happens, the core is still one capable of contending for the postseason. The Braves simply need to bring in depth and make a splashy move or two in the 2026 offseason.
Perhaps the biggest question mark in this is whether or not Sean Murphy fits in with what the franchise is building. There is no denying Murphy's deal hasn't aged as hoped, with the offense becoming increasingly inconsistent.
Still, the catcher is one of the best defenders in the league and calls a consistent game that has provided stability as the starting rotation has continued to fall apart. Any decision to trade the veteran is going to have to be heavily weighed.
Will the Braves Trade Sean Murphy?
The case for why the team should move on really comes down to two simplistic points. The first is the fact that Murphy's offense isn't living up to expectations and is actively keeping rookie Drake Baldwin out of the lineup. While Murphy might have come through in multiple clutch situations, this doesn't wipe away the lack of consistency. Taking the contract off the books and putting Baldwin into the lineup every night is a clear offensive improvement.
Leading us to the second piece of why it should be a consideration. A big part of the team's struggles this season is a lack of high-average hitters who can make the right play according to the situation. Murphy is a piece of this, and dealing with the catcher gives you a chance for meaningful change. Not only does it put Baldwin into the lineup, but it also gives the Braves incredible offseason flexibility, allowing them to add any top hitter with the DH spot open.
While all of this makes a compelling case, this brings us to the reasons why a deal doesn't make sense. You're selling low on a player who you have locked up on a franchise deal and moving away from an incredible defender. Add in the recent heroics, and losing Murphy will be difficult, even if the front office decides it is the right way to go.