The Year of the Catcher continues! With the trade deadline looming, we’ve been hoping the Braves would look to move Sean Murphy to clear up one of the most frustrating playing time gluts at the position, but they came up with a different solution to that problem: Why not play both?
With DH stalwart Marcell Ozuna looking no closer to breaking out of his multi-month slump, the Braves started both Murphy and Drake Baldwin in two of the final three games of the first half and then did the same thing to open the second half, with Ozuna only starting Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees. That’s not quite everyday playing time for both Baldwin and Murphy if it sticks, but it’s more than enough to make both viable starting Fantasy options in basically all formats. When they were mostly just splitting starts behind the plate, neither quite looked like a one-catcher league starter, but now they might both be. And they both deserve it.
Murphy, the veteran, is hitting .239/.325/.517 with 16 homers in just 62 games, while Baldwin brings a bit less pop to the plate (11 homers in 67 games) but has been a better source of batting average, sporting a .283/.355/.480 line for the season. That’s an easy 20-plus homer pace for both of them, with Murphy enjoying a bounceback season that has him on pace for 30-plus if he got enough opportunities.
And I’m thinking both should get enough opportunities moving forward. Whether that comes from a trade of Murphy — which is still possible per reports — or because the Braves find a taker for Ozuna, an impending free agent, or just stick with Ozuna being a part-time player, I think we’re going to see both Baldwin and Murphy get enough playing time to be in that one-catcher-league mix. So, if you’re looking for an upgrade, go check and see if Baldwin (43% rostered in CBS Fantasy leagues) or Murphy (41% rostered) are available.

Here’s who else we’re looking to add ahead of Week 18 of the Fantasy Baseball season.