Are the Braves going to find another backup catcher?

TL;DR

The Braves are seeking a backup catcher after Sean Murphy's injury will keep him out longer than expected. They have re-signed Sandy Leon but may need to explore other options like Austin Wynns or Austin Barnes.

Key points

Sean Murphy's injury extends his absence to about two months.
The Braves re-signed Sandy Leon as a stopgap backup catcher.
Jonah Heim was traded to the Athletics after a brief stint with the Braves.
Chadwick Tromp is also in the organization but not a preferred option.
Austin Wynns and Austin Barnes are potential alternatives for the Braves.

BravesAthleticsMets

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Reese McGuire #30 of the Chicago White Sox hits an rbi single scoring Everson Pereira #28 against the Athletics in the top of the second inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images In the offseason, the Braves knew that there’d be some issues with Sean Murphy’s availability. They signed Jonah Heim on February 10. That move turned into 45 PAs for Heim, where he ended up barely above replacement thanks to A) one big game at Coors Field in his final outing with the team and B) outhitting his .278 xwOBA over those 45 PAs. Then, Heim was DFAed and traded to the Athletics when Murphy was activated from the Injured List. Heim was signed when the Braves knew Murphy would be out for about a month of regular season action. Now, Murphy is going to be out about twice as long. The Braves did re-sign Sandy Leon, but that’s likely a stopgap: they didn’t go to Leon as the backup earlier, so it’d be strange to think that they now plan to rely on Leon for an even longer period. is once again in the organization, but the Braves neither relied on him in April, nor opted to select his contract instead of re-signing Leon, so I’m not sure if he’s the team’s preference to hang out on the roster and catch games against southpaws and such up until the All-Star Break or whatever. Who does that leave, though? It’d be funny if the Braves simply re-acquired Heim, especially since he’s not really playing for his new team (he’s made one start in ten days, along with a couple of pinch-hit appearances). On top of that, Heim didn’t really show anything on either side of the ball to make him an exciting (re-)acquisition; other than familiarity, his career looks to be continuing in its 2024-2025 sub-replacement vein, rather than a return to form. But, it’s not clear what options the Braves have overall that aren’t Leon or Tromp. was an Athletics roster casualty after being supplanted by Heim. The problem with Wynns is that the 35-year-old journeyman backup catcher isn’t actually good at anything, clocking in as a typical backup catcher bat without any notable framing skills. After that, I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking the question. Other guys that are floating around include and Reese McGuire; I couldn’t find other MLB veterans that re-entered the waiver wire this year. Barnes is 36 and may still be an okay framer, but his overall defensive profile has taken a tumble in his mid-30s; he was released by the in Spring Training. McGuire actually got into a few games for the White Sox this year, and his framing is non-horrible, but no team has shown any interest in him since he was cut a few weeks ago. Who else ya got?

Q&A

Why is Sean Murphy out for the Braves?

Sean Murphy is expected to miss about two months due to an injury, which has prompted the Braves to look for a backup catcher.

Who are the current backup catcher options for the Braves?

Currently, the Braves have Sandy Leon and Chadwick Tromp, but they are also considering other players like Austin Wynns and Austin Barnes.

What happened to Jonah Heim after joining the Braves?

Jonah Heim was DFAed and traded to the Athletics after serving as a temporary backup catcher for the Braves.

Are there any notable free agent catchers available for the Braves?

Notable free agent catchers include Austin Barnes and Reese McGuire, but both have limitations in their performance.