Braves trade of $45 million star has logic to suggestion

Billy Heyen

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Braves trade of $45 million star has logic to suggestion image

The Atlanta Braves are coming off an incredibly disappointing season.

They were supposed to contend for the NL East title. Instead, they were never in the playoff race at all.

One main thing went right: Drake Baldwin.

The talented youngster won NL Rookie of the Year.

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Now, Baldwin could be a factor in a move the Braves could seek this offseason. If Atlanta wants to trade Sean Murphy, it could.

Baldwin came through the system as a catcher and certainly could play that position full time in MLB if Atlanta wants him to. That would require getting rid of Murphy.

Murphy's trade value could be solid right now, too, because the free agent catcher market is basically J.T. Realmuto and no one else.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand suggests that Murphy is the player the Braves are most likely to trade this offseason.

"Given the dearth of catching options on the free-agent market, the Braves – who also have reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin – could receive interest in Murphy, who is under club control for three more years at $45 million," Feinsand writes. "Murphy has been dealing with a hip injury for the past two years that has impacted his performance at the plate, but he remains a top defender behind the plate."

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The injury would be a concern for an acquiring team.

On the flip side, paying him a total of $45 million for the next three years ($15 million per season) is not bad value for what Murphy can be if he stays relatively healthy.

His name will continue to be floated as an option this winter, and fans will just have to wait and see if the Braves actually pull the trigger on a move.

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Editorial Team