A new team is reportedly checking in on the availability of Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy. Surprisingly, it’s the Atlanta Braves, a team with plenty of catching depth on paper but also a history of making a splash in trades with Oakland.
Atlanta Braves rumors: Sean Murphy as a possible trade target?
In an article by MLB insider Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Atlanta Braves have “checked in” with the Oakland A’s on catcher Sean Murphy, who is one of the hottest names on the trade market. The 28-year-old Murphy is on the short list of several teams who need help behind the plate. On the surface, however, that would not seem to be the Braves, a team with Travis d’Arnaud, William Contreras, and Manny Piña already on the roster.
However, according to Rosenthal, the Braves would be interested in bringing on Murphy, then potentially using one of the names above as a trade chip to land depth at other positions, including the infield and on the mound.
Murphy slashed .250/.332/.426 last season with 18 home runs and 66 RBI. His 3.5 bWAR last season was the highest on Oakland’s roster and outpaced D’Arnaud’s 2.9, the highest of any Braves catcher. Murphy is also under team control through the 2025 campaign, giving whatever team that lands him their backstop for the near future.
Oakland and Atlanta have a recent trade history, with the Braves landing first baseman Matt Olson before last season in a blockbuster deal. Part of that deal included Atlanta sending catching prospect Shea Langeliers to Oakland. The 25-year-old Langeliers made his MLB debut last season, playing in 40 games. Should the A’s move Murphy, Langeliers will likely take over primary catching duties.
Atlanta may be down on the list of teams (including the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Guardians, among others) who would actually pull of a trade for Murphy, but the Braves are at least checking to see if the move would make sense as they look to get back to the World Series in 2023.