The Atlanta Braves are facing several possible departures this offseason, primarily in their pitching staff. Max Fried is expected to attract strong interest in free agency, and Charlie Morton might retire, which could leave the Braves’ rotation without two reliable starters.
Meanwhile, the Braves’ offense also presents challenges. They struggled to spark their bats this season due to numerous injuries, allowing the Phillies, Mets, and other National League teams to surpass them. Key players like Ronald Acuña, Austin Riley, and Michael Harris are expected to be healthier and more productive next season, but the Braves can’t risk any lingering issues.
General Manager Alex Anthopoulos’ trade deadline moves didn’t fully pay off for Atlanta. Recently, the Braves traded Jorge Soler to the Angels, and additional changes could be in the works. Catcher is one position to keep an eye on, as it can be a weak spot even for strong offensive teams.
The league has a shortage of reliable hitters at the catcher position, making skilled offensive catchers highly valuable. Atlanta has benefited from the contributions of Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud in recent years, but Murphy’s performance declined in 2024, and d’Arnaud is now a free agent. Given the scarcity of strong offensive catchers, d’Arnaud is likely to receive competitive offers from other teams.
If the Braves lose d’Arnaud, it would create a significant gap in their lineup. However, Anthopoulos could address this by exploring a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Braves could target Cardinals’ Willson Contreras to replace Travis d’Arnaud at catcher
Last season, Contreras was limited by injuries to just 84 games, yet he delivered solid performance, slashing .262/.380/.468 with 15 home runs. A 2022 All-Star, Contreras would strengthen the Braves’ catching depth despite Sean Murphy and top prospect Drake Baldwin already in the lineup.
Nate Hagerty of *Sports Illustrated* offers a straightforward assessment of a potential trade.
“Acquiring Contreras could be expensive for Atlanta, but if they’re open to trading a few top prospects for the 2016 World Series champion, a deal could work. However, it’s unlikely the Braves would target Contreras, given their decision not to pick up d’Arnaud’s option to free up payroll. Still, with Contreras being one of the league’s top-hitting catchers, he might be worth considering.”
Overall, Braves fans shouldn’t get too hopeful about this scenario. It’s unusual for Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves’ front office to commit significant resources to an already strong position. That said, after a disappointing season, the Braves might take a more aggressive approach. The National League remains competitive, especially with the Dodgers’ dominance, and the Braves need to reassert themselves in a tough division.
Contreras is likely to be involved in trade discussions this offseason. While Atlanta may not be the top contender for him, it’s an option to watch as d’Arnaud enters a fiercely competitive free-agent market.
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