Atlanta Braves Could Trade Sean Murphy to Yankees for Veteran Third Baseman

The Atlanta Braves have a catcher they are not fully using in Sean Murphy. His contract runs through 2028, and the New York Yankees have a clear need behind the plate. A trade this offseason makes more sense than it might look at first.

Murphy played just 33 games in 2026 after fracturing his left middle finger, which kept him out until August. He hit .182 with a .556 OPS, three home runs and 10 RBIs in limited time.

That surface-level line is not the whole story. Murphy owns a .741 career OPS and he won a Gold Glove in 2021. He hit 16 home runs in 94 games in 2025. He is a solid catcher when healthy, and the Yankees know it.

His contract does make things more complicated. Murphy is owed $15 million in each of the next two seasons with a $15 million club option for 2029. Atlanta would likely need to absorb some of that money to get a deal done, which cuts into whatever prospect return they would bring back.

The Yankees could send Ryan McMahon to Atlanta as part of a deal. McMahon is owed $16 million in 2027, the final year of his contract, and hit .213 with 11 home runs and a .635 OPS in 124 games this season.

He is a left-handed bat with defensive versatility, but his offensive numbers were a disappointment in New York. Austin Riley also struggled in 2026 at the hot corner, which actually opens the door for McMahon to work into a platoon at third base if both continue trending in the wrong direction. 

It is not a clean positional fit, but the salaries are close enough that it could work as a one-for-one swap.

The Yankees’ case for doing this is straightforward. Austin Wells is the starter, but he has struggled against left-handed pitching. Murphy is a right-handed hitter who could work the other side of a platoon. A healthy Murphy behind the plate also upgrades the defense.

Drake Baldwin has already taken over the starting job at catcher, and the Braves used Murphy at DH down the stretch when he was healthy. 

Atlanta won the NL East at 94-68 before losing to the Dodgers in the NLDS. They are not blowing anything up. But if a team is willing to take on Murphy’s contract and send back a useful piece, there is no reason the Braves should not hear the offer out.