Drake Baldwin is the reigning NL Rookie of the Year and the long-term answer behind the plate for the Atlanta Braves. And there’s already speculation of an early extension swirling around. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman noted back in 2023 that Atlanta has done “a really good job of extending their young players,” pointing to the core locked up long-term — Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Spencer Strider, Michael Harris II, and Sean Murphy — all signed through at least 2028. Could Baldwin be extended next?
MLB Insider Speculates Atlanta Braves Could Extend Drake Baldwin and Trade Sean Murphy
Here’s where this gets interesting. MLB insider Mark Feinsand made it clear Murphy’s deal isn’t keeping Atlanta stuck. Murphy is making $15 million annually through 2028 with a club option for 2029, and Feinsand called it “movable,” adding that “there aren’t a lot of great catchers out there” for teams looking to upgrade behind the plate.
“I think they could move him,” Feinsand said on MLB Network. “Maybe not right now, but end of the year, maybe the middle of the year. If a team’s really looking for a catcher around the deadline.” That tracks with last summer, when the Padres and Rays were both reportedly eyeing Murphy ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Baldwin’s Rookie of the Year Campaign
The math here is simple. Baldwin slashed .274/.341/.469 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI across 124 games in 2025, posting a 126 OPS+ and earning 3.3 WAR per Baseball Reference. He became the first catcher to win Rookie of the Year since Buster Posey took home the hardware in 2010 — and at just 24 years old, his offensive ceiling behind the dish is terrifying for the rest of the NL East.
Baldwin is under team control for five more years and won’t even hit arbitration for another two seasons, which is exactly why Feinsand noted there’s “not an urgency to sign him.”
What a Baldwin Extension Means for Sean Murphy’s Future in Atlanta
If the Braves pull the trigger on locking Baldwin up, Murphy becomes the most logical trade chip in the organization. Murphy has dealt with hip issues over the past two seasons — including a right hip labral tear that ended his 2025 campaign in September — and that has limited his availability.
But he’s still regarded as one of the better catchers in the game, and that $15 million annual salary is more than reasonable for a contender desperate for catching help at the deadline.
Feinsand framed it perfectly. These deals happen, especially once free agency wraps up and teams start looking ahead. Baldwin’s name is squarely in play for 2026 — and if the Braves act on it, Murphy’s bags might already be half-packed.
Could Braves Extend Rookie of the Year and Trade $73M All-Star?