The San Diego Padres have been a relatively quiet team across MLB this offseason. The same can not be said about the Atlanta Braves, who have made a plethora of roster moves and a couple of big signings that put Atlanta in a good spot heading into 2026. If there’s only one thing the Braves need to cap off this offseason, it’s another starting pitcher.
Atlanta has strong frontline options in Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and even Spencer Strider. However, injuries have piled up in the rotation in recent years, and just about every MLB team could use starter depth. With catcher Drake Baldwin’s emergence, should the Braves consider trading Sean Murphy? And could it be for the Padres, who have a big need at the catcher position?
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Should the Braves Trade Sean Murphy?
Sean Murphy’s name had carried strong rumors back in July about potentially being traded, and there were a few teams reportedly interested in the former All-Star backstop. Murphy signed a six-year, $73 million deal with Atlanta before his 2023 All-Star campaign.
The teams reportedly interested in him at the time included the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays. Both have a strong need at the catcher position, and adding Murphy would provide some sort of power threat behind the dish.
So, yes, the Braves should consider trading away Sean Murphy, and they should do so with the Padres and acquire starter JP Sears in return. Sears spent 2025 with the Athletics and Padres, and posted an ERA of 5.05 over 134.2 innings.
Since 2023, JP Sears has averaged 30 starts per season and has 170+ innings in two of those years. Over four years in MLB and 558.2 innings pitched, Sears carries a career 4.53 ERA.
GettySAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 28: JP Sears #38 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Petco Park on September 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin/Getty Images)
As for Murphy, he’s hit below .200 in each of the past two seasons and has also failed to play in 100+ games in either of those seasons.
Certainly not going to light up the stat sheet, but with Murphy aging and his ability to stay on the field and produce starting to fade, now is the perfect time to move him for a controllable arm. On top of that, Sean Murphy isn’t expected to start the 2026 season because of his recovery from a hip injury.
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Braves Need Another Southpaw Starter
Another element of this trade idea is the fact that the Braves could use another lefty starter, and Sears would join Chris Sale and Joey Wentz as the southpaw options in the rotation. Atlanta has plenty of right-handers like Strider, Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, and Reynaldo Lopez.
In fact, the Braves could make this trade package even bigger by offloading Murphy and one of those right-handers, and see if the Padres could add another player to the deal.
Even if a Sean Murphy trade doesn’t take place this offseason, expect his name to be a subject of trade rumors as the 2026 season progresses, especially if the Braves bring on another catcher before Opening Day.
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