The San Diego Padres need help in two spots before the trade deadline – left field and behind the plate. With Martin Maldonado and Elias Diaz struggling both at the plate and defensively, they’ve got a clear hole at catcher.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand connected the Padres to Atlanta’s Sean Murphy as a potential trade target. The Braves are sitting outside the playoff picture after losing key players and stumbling out of the gate this season.
“Murphy might be the only controllable player the Braves consider moving,” Feinsand writes. “As Drake Baldwin could step in as the everyday catcher right away.”
But here’s the thing – Atlanta might not be ready to move Murphy just yet.
The Braves have been mentioned as a team that’s unlikely to trade most of their roster, except maybe Marcell Ozuna, who’s in his walk year. Murphy’s under team control through 2028, which makes him valuable long-term. Even with their current struggles, they might decide to hold onto him.
If he does become available though, San Diego should be all over it. Murphy’s not quite the player he was during his 2023 All-Star campaign, but he’s been solid this year for Atlanta.
In 47 games, Murphy’s hitting .222/.318/.471 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs. His 107 OPS+ puts him above league average and looks much more like his 2023 form than his disappointing 2024 season.
Adding Murphy would be a huge upgrade for the Padres. He’s better than both Maldonado and Diaz in every phase of the game – hitting, fielding, game-calling behind the plate.
The cost would be steep, that’s for sure. Between his talent and team control through 2028, Murphy wouldn’t come cheap. But quality catchers rarely become available at the deadline, and according to Feinsand’s report, the Padres are expected to show interest if Murphy hits the market.
It’s the kind of move that could solidify their playoff push. The question is whether Atlanta’s ready to part with a piece they’ll likely want for their own future contention window.
