It’s never just depth with the Atlanta Braves, is it?
Let’s dig into this catcher rotation because something weird is going on behind the plate in Atlanta. It seems like more than just depth insurance.
The Braves Catcher Situation
The franchise’s clear starter and recent extension recipient, Sean Murphy, is still on his way back. He’s in Triple-A, rehabbing a fractured rib, and all signs point to a return within the next week or so. That part is straightforward. What’s not straightforward is what happens when he’s back.
Enter Drake Baldwin.
Baldwin wasn’t even supposed to sniff the majors this early. But a spring injury to Murphy opened the door, and the 24-year-old walked right through it, gear in hand and bat in tow.
His stat line isn’t screaming “breakout,” but the advanced metrics and good old-fashioned eyeball test say otherwise. He looks composed, quick to the ball, and calm behind the plate. If you didn’t know better, you’d assume he was the backup all along.
Then there’s Chadwick Tromp, the lifetime backup. Tromp was supposed to back up Murphy. Instead, he’s backing up Baldwin and quietly holding onto a roster spot by the skin of his catcher’s mitt. Tromp is out of options—if he goes off the 26-man roster, he likely goes off the team.
The Veteran Flood
But it doesn’t stop there. Sandy León is in Triple-A. A longtime starter, James McCann, was recently scooped up as a free agent. And just this week, Jason Delay was added via trade after being DFA’d by Pittsburgh. That’s four legit veteran catchers floating just behind the front line.
So what’s the plan?
Is Baldwin Headed to Left Field?
With the outfield in flux—Acuña still recovering and Profar suspended—the Braves are scrapping together solutions. Could one of those solutions be Drake Baldwin, left fielder?
It sounds wild but not unprecedented. Remember Evan Gattis? William Contreras in 2022? The Braves have dipped their toes into the “catcher-to-corner-outfield” pool, especially when the bat is too hot to stash.
Baldwin was a hockey player. He’s athletic. He’s young. If the Braves think he can survive out there—and they’ve run far worse defenders through left field—it wouldn’t be the craziest experiment if it means keeping his bat in the mix while Murphy regains full-time catching duties.
Could It Be a Trade?
It’s unlikely. Very unlikely. But the Braves have shown they’ll trade anyone if the timing’s right and the return’s good. Would they move Murphy? Hard to imagine after signing him to an extension. But if the payroll’s tight and Baldwin looks ready now—not next year, now—then maybe that wild idea isn’t so far-fetched.
Or maybe it’s a different trade altogether—moving Tromp for a minor piece or dealing one of the veterans stashed in Triple-A for bullpen depth. Something has to give.
There’s simply not enough room for Murphy, Baldwin, Tromp, McCann, León, and Delay. That’s not a catching depth chart. That’s a full-on catcher convention.
So What Are The Braves Doing?
The obvious plan? Murphy starts. Baldwin backs up (but gets at-bats). Tromp is DFA’d. Depth stays in Triple-A.
The less obvious plan? Baldwin goes to the outfield—or the minors—to preserve flexibility. Or someone gets traded. Or another injury pops up and reshuffles the deck again.
If it was just about depth, the Braves wouldn’t be hoarding MLB-experienced catchers. Right?
