As the Atlanta Braves try to patch together a catching situation that’s spiraling faster than a Jesse Chavez DFA notice, the front office is clearly feeling the heat — and making moves to keep the ship from capsizing early in the season.
Let’s start with the headline: Drake Baldwin, the Braves’ top-catching prospect, is off to a brutal start in his Major League debut. He’s hitting .056, and that stat line includes a particularly painful 0-for-7 against the Dodgers.
The guy is talented, but the Major Leagues are ruthless, and this team is not in a position to be patient—not when the entire offense looks like it’s swinging wiffle bats in a wind tunnel.
Jason Delay: Braves Choose Veteran Depth Over Flash
In response, the Braves turned to the trade wire, acquiring Jason Delay from the Pirates for cash considerations. It’s a no-frills move, but one with purpose.
Delay isn’t coming in to turn the season around, but he does bring experience — 134 big league games and a .231 career batting average. He’ll report to Double-A Columbus for now, but don’t be surprised if he’s suiting up in Atlanta before long if Baldwin’s slump continues and Murphy’s rehab slows.
This isn’t just about Delay, though. Atlanta’s been stacking veteran options like a kid hoarding trading cards — Sandy León is still in the mix after Spring Training, and James McCann, signed March 17, adds more cushion.
The Braves are clearly hedging their bets at catcher. They know they can’t afford a black hole in the lineup if the offense doesn’t wake up soon.
Sean Murphy’s Road Back
The good news is Sean Murphy, the 2023 All-Star, is inching closer to a return after suffering a cracked rib. There’s no set timeline, but rehab games at Triple-A are encouraging. Until he’s back in Atlanta and producing, the Braves are in scramble mode — patching holes with duct tape and hope.
Meanwhile, the offense as a whole isn’t doing Baldwin any favors. As of April 3, Atlanta ranked dead last in batting average and OPS and was next-to-last in both on-base and slugging percentage. Even a slumping rookie stands out a little less in that environment, but not for long. The leash is only so long when runs are at a premium.
Jesse Chavez Out, Reynaldo López on Ice
Elsewhere on the roster, the Braves shuffled again — Jesse Chavez was DFA’d just one day after being promoted. It was his fifth stint with Atlanta and likely his last.
Rather than report to Triple-A, Chavez opted for free agency. The veteran reliever was a spring invitee with Texas before landing in Atlanta. One appearance, and it was over.
Also out of action: Reynaldo López moved to the 60-day IL and headed for shoulder surgery. The right-hander won’t be back before summer; depending on what doctors find, he might be done until 2025. The Braves are hopeful it’s nothing too severe, but there’s no immediate rescue coming from that direction.
The big picture is a talented roster struggling to find its footing, a top prospect trying to find his bat in the bigs, and a front office aggressively plugging gaps with whatever it can find. The Braves still have time, but patience is wearing thin in the lineup and the clubhouse.
