All-Star catcher Sean Murphy is out for a few weeks with a cracked rib, and that leaves the Atlanta Braves in a bit of a pickle. Catching is one of baseball’s most physically demanding positions.
Rib injuries aren’t exactly the kind you can rush back from—especially when you’re crouching, blocking balls in the dirt, and taking foul tips off the chest protector every night.
James McCann: A Logical Fit for the Braves
The Braves haven’t finalized a move to replace Murphy, but there’s still time. According to Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer, James McCann’s a pretty reasonable option sitting in free agency.
The 34-year-old veteran catcher spent last season with the Baltimore Orioles and is projected to sign for around $3 million, per Spotrac. That’s a bargain-bin price for a guy with 10 years of big-league experience.
Now, let’s not kid ourselves—McCann isn’t going to come in and replace Murphy’s All-Star production. But he’s a solid, serviceable backstop who slashed .234/.279/.388 last season with eight home runs and nine doubles in 65 games.
That’s not flashy, but it’s steady enough to keep things from falling apart while Murphy heals up. Rymer also pointed out that Yasmani Grandal was reportedly offered a deal by Atlanta but turned it down, which makes McCann the next logical target.
The Risk of Rushing Drake Baldwin
Fast-tracking prospect Drake Baldwin to the big leagues id the other option. Baldwin has promise, but rushing a young catcher into a high-pressure situation isn’t always the best idea.
If the Braves bring him up too soon, it could hurt his development. Obviously that is something they’d rather avoid, especially with a long-term need at catcher behind Murphy.
There’s a big difference between being big-league ready and being fully prepared to handle the everyday grind of MLB catching.
It could shake his confidence and potentially slow down his overall development if everything doesn’t click early. That’s a risk the Braves don’t need to take when viable veteran options are available.
A Move Needs to Happen Soon
McCann seems like the safer bet. He’s affordable and experienced and gives the Braves a reliable stopgap option until Murphy is healthy.
If he performs well, he could even stick around as a depth piece for the rest of the season. Given the importance of the stability behind the plate, Atlanta would be wise to move sooner rather than later.
