The offseason has been slow around Major League Baseball, but we’re still seeing some blockbuster trade proposals that could make sense.
TJ French of Heavy Sports recently pitched an idea, proposing a potential player-for-player swap between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves centered around Mitch Keller and Sean Murphy.
The Braves are built to win now, but their roster doesn’t feel as good as it should be. For Atlanta, it is in a position where it has to make a move, but if it doesn’t get what it wants in return, it might decide not to.
“The Atlanta Braves don’t have many ‘tradeable’ players on their current MLB roster, or at least players that they would be comfortable trading away,” French wrote. “However, Sean Murphy might be the top trade piece the Braves have, aside from prospects and youngsters.”
Murphy is an All-Star caliber catcher, but he’s also slowed down a bit recently. The issue for the Pirates, however, is that they likely won’t get a perfect return for Keller, who, in his own right, is just an average arm at this point, not an ace.
“In this player-swap trade piece, the Atlanta Braves offload $73 million all-star Sean Murphy in exchange for Pirates’ starter Mitch Keller,” he added. “A deal that seemingly benefits both sides, and is roughly an equal financial exchange as well.”
While he might not be great, Keller gives Atlanta a controllable, durable starting pitcher, something every contender is constantly searching for.
He’s been a constant in Pittsburgh’s rotation and would slide nicely into a Braves staff that has dealt with injuries and still has them with Spencer Strider and Chris Sale as its two aces.
Adding a catcher who has shown that he can be very good is intriguing for the Pirates. Murphy would bring power, defense, and the ability to get even better.
We don’t often see a lot of player-for-player swaps, especially with two big leaguers, but it’s one that actually makes some sense. The Pirates and Braves have also made some nice moves this winter, so it could fit what both teams are looking to do.