When Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy underwent season-ending surgery last September, there were questions as to how the issue with his hip had gotten so bad without being addressed. Throughout this
off-season, Murphy’s availability for Opening Day 2026 was hinted at being in question.
This weekend, MLB’s Mark Bowman published an article previewing the Spring Training and in it, he strongly alluded to Murphy’s injury preventing him from being on the regular season roster once Atlanta starts playing games that count in 2026.
For context, Bowman was answering his own theoretical question as to why Murphy couldn’t be used as an asset to trade for starting pitching. He answer was, “Well, it sounds like Murphy will miss the start of the season while recovering from right hip surgery.” (The link it to his article on September 8, 2025, about Murphy’s surgery.)
That doesn’t mean that Murphy won’t be ready for Opening Day, but it is the most recent statement that indicates that there is doubt about his readiness.
With pitchers and catcher reporting to North Port in a month, it is worth a quick recap of Atlanta’s catching depth, as it stands now. As a reminder, the Brave traded for Jason Delay and signed James McCann before last regular season. While neither player made it to Atlanta – frankly, McCann should have posting a 110 wRC+ with Arizona after they signed him – it shows that a late-in-the-off-season move to add another backstop shouldn’t be ruled out.
On the 40-man
There are two catchers on Atlanta’s 40-man roster, Murphy and Drake Baldwin, the reigning 2025 National League Rookie of the Year. Baldwin will look to carry-on and improve upon an outstanding rookie season. Baldwin proved to be an excellent starting catcher and should be expected to once again man the role for Atlanta.
In the organization
At Triple-A, the Braves have two catchers who saw action with the big league club in 2025. Atlanta brought back Chadwick Tromp, who started the 2025 season on the Opening Day roster, but was designated for assignment when Murphy returned from injury and Baldwin showed he was ready to stay in Atlanta.
After some time with the Baltimore Orioles, Tromp ended last season with in the minors with the Boston Red Sox organization. With roots in the Atlanta organization going back to 2021, Tromp could be the most likely catcher to make the 2026 Opening Day roster if, like last season, Murphy isn’t ready for Opening Day but would return early in the regular season.
Sandy León, is also on the Gwinnett Stripers’ roster – although there was some questions as to if he did indeed re-sign with the organization after the end of last season. León has been in the organization for several years, and got his first big league action since 2023 with the Braves last season. He’d be another option for Atlanta if Murphy’s returned was a matter of weeks into the regular season – especially if the team was concerned they might lose Tromp again since he is out of options.
The Braves have several other catchers on the Stripers’ roster: Jair Camargo, who had a cup of coffee with the Minnesota Twins in 2024; Archer Brookman a AAA Rule 5 pick who has yet to play above high-A; and Adam Zebrowski, the 13th round pick by the Braves in 2021 who made it to Triple-A last season.
There is one other organizational name to keep an eye on if the team needs a third catcher for a couple of weeks to start the season. Martín Maldonado, the 15-year big league veteran joined the organization doing the off-season, but not in an on-field role. He is playing in the Winter leagues, and while he was to retire afterward, the respected veteran who will turn 40 this season, could hypothetically be an option if Atlanta didn’t want to risk exposing Tromp or León to waivers.
But what happens if Murphy is going to miss more than a couple of weeks? If Atlanta thought Murphy was going to miss significant time – months, not weeks – chances are they would have addressed the issue with by bringing in a catcher who the team to rely on to split time with Baldwin. They haven’t done that yet, which lends some optimism to Murphy’s recovery.
However, here are a look at a few of the catcher that have lingered on the market.
Free agents
Here are some of the more notable names who are still free agents:
J.T. Realmuto – Once the subject of the “Mish Watch” when his trade from the Miami Marlins to the Braves seemed likely – is still on the market but could return to the Philadelphia Phillies or to a team where he would be a full-time starter. While the three-time All-Star isn’t the player he once was, he’d still be a fantastic option, albeit one that is unlikely.
Victor Caratini – A 2nd round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2013, Caratini was traded by the Braves in 2014 but is heading into his 10th big league season as a high-end back-up catcher. He’s a switch-hitter and has a decent amount of experience on the infield. He’d be an interesting option for the Braves to add regardless of Murphy’s status. Caratini is probably looking for more playing time than the Braves would offer if Murphy were to return in April, but if Murphy’s absence is longer, a reunion with Caratini would be plausible.
Mitch Garver – The Braves have brought in a number of former Twins coaches and the long-time Twins’ backstop could be yet another addition with roots in Minnesota. He still has some pop in his bat, hitting nine home runs as a back-up last year in Seattle. Prior to last season, he hit double-digit home runs in every non-COVID season going back to his career-high 31 dingers in 2019 with the Twins. He could fill that 26-man on the bench role who could get some DH at-bats or behind the plate.
Jonah Heim – Another switch-hitting catcher who is only 30, will likely land a starting job as the former All-Star and Gold Glove winner was released by the Texas Rangers for financial reasons. He’d be an intriguing option if Atlanta was looking for someone to pair with Baldwin, but that is unlikely, at least right now.
Luke Maile – A long-time back-up catcher going back to his debut in 2015, he’d be a typical back-up/third catcher option. The upside isn’t there but he’d could be serviceable option with a long-time positive reputation behind the plate.
Austin Barnes – After spending his entire 11-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was waived by the team mid-season and latched on with the San Francisco Giants but didn’t appear in the big leagues. Another player who had experience on the infield, Barnes might not offer much beyond temporary depth at this point in his career.
Elias Díaz – Another 11-year veteran, Díaz was a long-time starter who had a bit of a bounce-back season last year with the San Diego Padres, hitting nine home runs in 106 games. He’d be another viable option if the Braves needed six or eight weeks of back-up catcher duty.
Gary Sánchez – He’s the last option that will be covered, as the long-time New York Yankees catcher still has some pop in his bat, but only appeared 30 games last season and missed most of the year with a knee issue. He is playing this Winter and should be ready for the season. He has 189 career home runs and had hit double-digit home runs in each season going back to 2016 until last year. As a catcher and DH, the 33-year-old could look to bounce-back with the Braves while giving them a power-bat off-the-bench.
Heading into mid-January, Atlanta’s catching situation in 2026 could still be a strength, but how Murphy factors into it is to be determined.
