r/Braves • u/game-threads • 1d ago

Off Day Thread Braves Postseason Discussion Thread - Tuesday, October 13

No game today. Feel free to discuss whatever you want in this thread.

Around the League

CLE 1 @ TB 3 - Top 9, 1 Out

Last Updated: 10/13/2026 10:50:05 PM EDT

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

-8

u/Outrageous_Ad1938 1d ago

But did it make sense? We controlled Contreras for another 7 years at the time of the trade. He would have been given one of AA's specialty long term control contracts. Catcher is a premium position, and a good hitting catcher is quite rare. Its easier to teach defense than offense. And while hindsight is 20/20, he has turned into a good catcher.

6

u/theoxfordtailor Maddux Guy 1d ago

You can argue that defense is easier to teach, but Sean Murphy has proven that he's got something that no other catcher really has. You might be able to create a good defensive catcher when he wasn't one before, but you can't clone an elite one.

Plus, Murphy can hit. Or rather, he could at the time he was traded to us. If he stays healthy, I'm optimistic about his bat next year.

-7

u/Dense-Practice-9369 1d ago

If he actually played, I’d see your point. The thing is, he doesn't play. He’s always injured. He gets hurt just using the TV remote. He can't be elite if he doesn't play. His hitting? Well, his injuries have taken a toll on that. He doesn't hit anymore, and he doesn't hit in the playoffs either, so he doesn't contribute there, either. Optimistic about next year? I’ve heard that for the last few seasons. It never happens. That’s four seasons now of declining performance and injuries. The perfect is the enemy of the good; if he doesn't produce, trading him (if possible) would be a good option.

8

u/theoxfordtailor Maddux Guy 1d ago edited 1d ago

He hit one of our only homers in the division series. Try again.

And that's bullshit holding his injuries against him. That's not AA's fault and it's not Murphy's fault either.