The San Diego Padres are one of the few teams in dire need of catcher help ahead of the MLB trade deadline. With the lack of options on the market, the Padres could be in a tricky situation, getting stuck with their current catcher room.
And after a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Padres got some bittersweet news on their top trade target, Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy.
"Atlanta is expected to listen to trade offers for second baseman Ozzie Albies," Nightengale writes, "center fielder Michael Harris and catcher Sean Murphy, but not until this winter."
It's a tough report from Nightengale. While the potential to trade for Murphy is on the table, it won't be until after the 2025 season, when the Padres need catcher help the most.
While they could still go after Murphy after 2025, it might be too late. With Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Robert Suarez all hitting free agency, the Padres could miss their window of contention.
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But, while the Braves aren't planning to move Murphy, the Padres could jump the gun and try to land him at this deadline. The fact that the Braves will listen to offers for Murphy is a huge first step towards landing the ideal catcher target at the deadline.
It's likely to cost a fortune, but with a closing window, there's no time like the present in San Diego. A.J. Preller isn't afraid of using his top prospects, and while Leo De Vries is unlikely to be moved, top catcher prospect Ethan Salas could be a trade chip.
The Padres are looking to add a catcher, and while Murphy is more likely to be moved in the offseason, the door is open to a deal.
It's a bittersweet update, as while a potential trade seems more likely than ever, it's not expected until after the 2025 season, when the Padres might not need Murphy as much.
The Braves' All-Star catcher would be an ideal pickup for the Padres, and yet, despite the window for a deal being opened, it seems unlikely to happen at the trade deadline, when the Padres need it most.
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