Braves have three options for the future of Drake Baldwin

We are not even a month into the season, and it’s already extraordinarily evident Drake Baldwin has the opportunity to be a special offensive player at the major-league level.

The start of his season was filled with striped balls that somehow found their way into gloves. He easily could have been hitting over .300 with a few homers by the time Sean Murphy arrived. However, that luck has shifted over the last couple of weeks. Baldwin has tallied a few opposite-field homers and is hitting .391 with a 1.179 OPS in his last eight games.

What’s even more incredible about this recent stretch of play is that Drake Baldwin is only getting at-bats every few days. For most guys, just take a look at Sean Murphy; every day at-bats are needed to find a groove, but Baldwin’s approach has not wavered, no matter the situation. His feel in the box is so rare for a catcher in today’s game, but the Braves have to find a place for him to play every day. An issue that exists beyond just this year, with Sean Murphy under contract through 2029.

A Move To Left Field

Left field is always the first thought when thrusting a player into a new position, and the Braves have done it on several occasions in recent memory. Most notably, both Chipper Jones and Austin Riley moved from third base to left field, but the Braves also tried it with William Contreras a few years ago, an experiment that lasted just one game. Moving from catcher to left field is a much more difficult transition, but it would be pretty shocking if the Braves weren’t at least considering the possibilities. Left field has been a black hole for the club ever since 2021, and Baldwin’s bat in the lineup every day would create such an advantage for Atlanta’s offense, especially when Ronald Acuña Jr. returns.

A Move To DH

This feels like the most likely scenario. I don’t expect the Braves to try Marcell Ozuna in the outfield ever again unless they are desperate. Those days feel like they’re well in the rearview mirror. But this dilemma exists beyond this season, and Ozuna is in the final year of his contract. Given how well the Big Bear has played and his value in the clubhouse, the Braves would love to have him back, but their track record with re-signing players that hit free agency is pretty much non-existent. Letting Ozuna walk allows Baldwin to become the full-time DH while catching on Murphy’s off-days.

A Trade

Of course, the Braves could look at the entire construct of their club and decide they can’t afford to have a surplus of primary catchers while other aspects of the team suffer. Both Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy would bring back a haul in a trade, but I still find this to be the least likely option. Murphy is a pitcher’s dream that’s starting to become a really productive piece of the offense again, and I don’t think the Braves could possibly sell high enough on Baldwin’s bat. It’s elite and exactly what is needed in Atlanta, a high-contact guy that can also hit 20-30 homers. Unless the Braves were able to get an ace with several years of control or a starting shortstop, I wouldn’t even think about moving either of them.

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Photo: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire

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