Braves predicted to sign $4M World Series champion, All-Star Gold Glover amid Sean Murphy injury

Hunter Cookston

•
Braves predicted to sign $4M World Series champion, All-Star Gold Glover amid Sean Murphy injury image

The Atlanta Braves might be having the best offseason of any team in MLB. However, there are still a few spots that need to be addressed. One potential area of focus is the backup catcher role behind Drake Baldwin. Sean Murphy is expected to miss time to begin the season after requiring hip surgery on an injury he reportedly played through all year.

“Sean Murphy's struggles over the past month were likely influenced by the right hip ailment that will be surgically repaired later this week,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.

The Braves are unlikely to spend heavily on what could be a temporary catching option, but one intriguing name on the market is recently non-tendered Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim.

“One need that hasn’t been discussed much is catcher, largely because the Braves currently have two very good ones on the roster. However, there is speculation that Sean Murphy could miss time to begin the season following hip surgery, which would force the Braves to acquire some depth. Heim could be looking for more stability after being non-tendered by the Rangers, but it’s worth noting he had the best season of his career under hitting coach Tim Hyers in 2023, when he earned an All-Star selection and a Gold Glove. That connection alone makes him an interesting name to monitor,” Sports Talk ATL’s Chase Irle wrote.

Heim struggled during the 2025 season, but if he can rediscover even a portion of his 2023 form, he could provide solid value.

“The 30-year-old Heim had a breakout season in 2023 when he hit.258 with 18 home runs and 95 runs batted in, not only making the All-Star team but also winning his first American League Gold Glove Award,” CBS News’ Bill Jones wrote.

With Braves hitting coach Tim Hyers having worked with Heim during his breakout 2023 season, there is reason to believe a reunion could help him bounce back. It would be a low-risk addition for Atlanta, especially as the team navigates Murphy’s absence to begin the year.

The Braves have already put together an impressive offseason, and there is little reason to believe they are finished. Adding Heim would represent a relatively small financial risk with potential upside.

More MLB news:

Contributing writer

Staff Writer