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PHILADELPHIA -- How will the Braves create roster space when catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and right-handed starter Spencer Strider make their separate returns from the injured list over the next few weeks?
It’s tradition for managers and baseball executives to answer these kinds of questions by saying, “these things seem to work themselves out.” While a boring response, it’s proven truthful enough over the years that it’s still used.
But we’re not going to take the easy way out. Instead, let’s look at some of the tough decisions the Braves may need to make to create roster spots for these key players.
Murphy: The 2023 All-Star catcher will be behind the plate when Strider starts for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday night. He has said he may need to catch nine innings on consecutive days before being activated. Well, he didn’t catch more than five innings during any of the three games he caught for High-A Rome this past week. So, he may not be ready to be activated before the end of the week.
But there’s certainly reason to think Murphy could be added to Atlanta’s roster before the end of the month. His return will likely force the Braves to part ways with either backup catcher Jonah Heim or utility man Kyle Farmer.
Looking ahead, both Heim and Farmer could be removed from the roster by the time Kim returns in May. But if you subscribe to the “these things work themselves out” theory, there’s always a chance an unforeseeable event will erase what currently seems inevitable.
Farmer is a tremendous presence within the clubhouse, but you have to question what value he brings to a team that already benefits from the great versatility Mauricio Dubón, Jorge Mateo and Eli White bring.
The Braves have given Farmer seven plate appearances (three in a 13-1 win over the Guardians on April 12) and three innings in the field thus far. He’s a great guy and there are plenty of people who would like to see him stay. But it makes more sense to keep Heim around to serve as a third catcher.
With Heim’s presence as a third catcher, manager Walt Weiss would have a little more flexibility on those nights when Drake Baldwin is serving as the designated hitter. But sticking with Heim instead of Farmer also provides some insurance while Murphy proves he’s made a full recovery from right hip surgery.
Yeah, Farmer could be used as an emergency catcher. But in the event that anything would happen to Murphy or Baldwin over the next couple weeks, it’s better to keep Heim around as long as possible.
So, what do you do when Kim returns? The shortstop is scheduled to play a sim game on Thursday and he could begin his Minor League rehab assignment next week. Let’s just project a mid-May return for now.
As long as Murphy and Baldwin are healthy at that point, I think Heim would be the most logical odd man out when Kim is ready to be activated. But you have to at least evaluate some other options.
Kim: Kim’s return would free Dubón to play left field when Mike Yastrzemski sits against left-handed starters. Dubón would also be available to play either of the other two outfield spots. So, does his availability to play across the outfield lessen the value of carrying White? Or, would White still provide more value than carrying a third catcher?
As for Mateo, I think his speed erases him as a potential roster casualty when these position players return from the IL. Mateo gives Weiss a great pinch-running option and a glove that can play around the outfield on those nights when Dubón is needed in the outfield.
Strider: He may be ready to rejoin the Atlanta rotation within the first week of May. His return might bump Martín Pérez to the bullpen.
But you never know. Pérez might end up staying in the rotation. As you might have heard, these things seem to work themselves out.