When the Atlanta Braves declined Travis d’Arnaud’s option this past offseason, it raised a few eyebrows. The veteran catcher had been a steady presence both at the plate and behind it, and his departure signaled a shift in Atlanta’s approach—one that appeared to lean more toward fiscal restraint and youth movement.
Now, just a couple of months into the 2025 season, that decision is aging quite well—at least when it comes to catcher production.
The Braves handed the starting role to Sean Murphy, with top prospect Drake Baldwin promoted to back him up. The transition has been seamless. Atlanta’s catching tandem ranks second in MLB in WAR, wOBA, and home runs, underscoring just how much production they’re getting from the position. Baldwin, in particular, seems to have nothing left to prove at the minor-league level. His bat has translated quickly, and his presence has provided valuable depth.
Meanwhile, d’Arnaud—who landed with the Angels—has stumbled out of the gate. Despite a solid 2024 campaign in Atlanta, he’s yet to find his footing in Los Angeles, struggling to replicate the offensive consistency he once brought to the Braves.
While Atlanta’s bullpen remains a soft spot in the roster, the decision to cut ties with d’Arnaud is looking more and more like a shrewd, forward-thinking move. The Braves may have chosen austerity over sentimentality, but in the case of their catchers, the return on that bet has been undeniably strong.
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