After three consecutive early postseason exits, Alex Anthopoulos could finally consider a significant change to the Braves. However, it’s likely that he will weigh the impact of injuries and enter the 2025 season with the same core group that has secured nearly 300 regular-season wins over the past three years.

While maintaining continuity feels like the correct course of action, the Braves have made blockbuster trades in each of the last three offseasons to enhance their roster. Anthopoulos traded for Matt Olson to fill Freddie Freeman’s shoes, followed by Sean Murphy the next year and Chris Sale last winter. He’s shown a willingness to trade prospects for proven talent, and the Braves’ most valuable trade chip has never been more clear.

In today’s game, catchers who can hit are like unicorns. The Braves have excelled at developing these players in their farm system, but currently, none of them are on the current roster. Shea Langeliers is now with the Oakland Athletics, a result of the Olson trade, and William Contreras is playing for the Milwaukee Brewers after the three-team deal that brought Sean Murphy to Atlanta.

Looking back, it’s uncertain whether Anthopoulos would make those same trades again, which serves as a cautionary tale for this offseason. Nevertheless, the Braves need to explore the trade market for their top prospect, Drake Baldwin, and see what he could command after a breakout 2023 season.

After being promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett midseason, Baldwin posted an impressive .292 batting average with 12 home runs and an .891 OPS over his last 72 games. He possesses all the tools to be an elite offensive catcher at the next level—he rarely strikes out, shows excellent plate discipline, and has power to all fields. Moreover, his defensive skills have been on full display early this offseason in the Arizona Fall League.

Writing up Drake Baldwin this morning and while it is usually the offense that makes the highlights, Baldwin gunning down two runners with pop times in the 1.9 range steals the show. He’s ready to be in Atlanta in 2025. https://t.co/FxjOEimfgG

— Chris Clegg (@ChrisCleggMiLB) October 28, 2024

Drake Baldwin’s tool chest has him soaring up MLB prospect rankings, and it won’t be long before he’s recognized as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. However, despite his development, there’s no clear path for him to play in Atlanta.

The Braves are expected to pick up Travis d’Arnaud‘s option for 2025, but the more significant hurdle is Sean Murphy. Anthopoulos made a substantial investment in Murphy two years ago, and he’s under contract through 2028, with a team option for 2029.

While the Braves could explore trade options for Murphy to assess his market value, doing so after a lackluster 2024 season would mean selling at a low point. Murphy’s performance last year doesn’t reflect his true capabilities, and the hope is that new hitting coach Tim Hyers can help restore the catcher’s confidence.

Baldwin was a superstar on the farm in 2024, but Murphy remains the more established player. It’s important to remember that the success of prospects is almost impossible to predict, which is why they’re often best utilized as trade chips—especially for teams with World Series aspirations. Selling high on Baldwin after a standout season in the minors makes far more sense than selling low on Murphy, who has proven himself to be an All-Star-caliber catcher at the major league level in the past.

—

Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire