The Atlanta Braves made one thing clear before the 2023 MLB season: the organization was fully committed to building around its young core for the long term.

Under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta launched an aggressive wave of contract extensions designed to lock up foundational players before their market value exploded even higher. In many ways, the strategy worked brilliantly.

Stars like Matt Olson and Michael Harris II have continued developing into franchise cornerstones. Harris could realistically become an MLB All-Star this season, while Olson remains one of the National League’s most dangerous power hitters and a legitimate MVP-caliber player.

But not every long-term investment has produced the results Atlanta expected.

One of the biggest question marks surrounding the Braves roster now centers around veteran catcher Sean Murphy, whose six-year, $73 million contract extension is increasingly becoming a complicated issue for the organization.

When Atlanta acquired and extended Murphy before the 2023 season, the move initially looked like another masterstroke by the Braves front office. Murphy quickly justified the investment during his first season in Atlanta, earning an All-Star selection while providing elite defense and strong offensive production behind the plate.

In 2023, Murphy hit more than 20 home runs and looked like one of baseball’s top two-way catchers.

Since then, however, the situation has changed dramatically.

Injuries have started piling up for the 31-year-old backstop, and his offensive production has declined significantly over the last several seasons. The Braves are now facing serious questions about Murphy’s long-term future with the franchise — especially as rising young catcher Drake Baldwin continues emerging as a major part of Atlanta’s future plans.

Many around baseball believe Murphy’s current contract situation may even be complicating potential extension talks with Baldwin moving forward.

Financially, the Braves still owe Murphy approximately $45 million across the remaining years of his deal. According to contract figures from Spotrac, Murphy carries an average annual value around $12 million for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons, with additional incentives potentially increasing that total further.

Atlanta also holds a club option for 2029, but unless Murphy experiences a major resurgence offensively, many believe the Braves are unlikely to exercise that option.

The biggest issue is availability.

Murphy is currently back on the injured list after suffering a fractured left middle finger, and reports indicate he could miss roughly eight weeks this season. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his ability to establish rhythm offensively, and the overall numbers continue trending in the wrong direction.

So far this year, Murphy has appeared in only four games, recording just one hit in 14 at-bats. That translates to a brutal .071 batting average and a .143 OPS — numbers that only add to growing concerns surrounding his role on the roster.

While the sample size remains small, the broader trend has become difficult for Braves fans to ignore.

Murphy has now struggled to stay healthy consistently while posting offensive numbers below expectations for multiple consecutive seasons. Even during 2025, when he showed flashes of power by hitting 16 home runs across 94 games, his overall offensive production remained roughly league average despite the home run total.

The Braves front office now appears to be approaching a major crossroads.

There are several possible directions Atlanta could take with Murphy moving forward, though none are particularly simple.

One option would be attempting to trade him. However, given Murphy’s injury history, declining production, and remaining contract value, finding a trade partner willing to absorb most of the salary could prove extremely difficult.

Another possibility would involve eventually releasing Murphy outright if the struggles continue worsening. Still, that scenario feels unlikely at the moment because of the significant financial commitment the Braves already made to the former All-Star catcher.

The most realistic path may involve reducing Murphy’s role significantly once he returns from injury.

Atlanta could potentially transition him into a backup catcher role behind Drake Baldwin, allowing Baldwin to become the organization’s primary long-term option while Murphy handles occasional starts and veteran depth responsibilities.

Some fans have suggested moving Murphy into a designated hitter role periodically, but even that idea carries major concerns. The Braves already possess one of baseball’s deepest offensive lineups, and dedicating the DH spot to a struggling hitter with declining offensive numbers may not make much sense competitively.

Ultimately, Atlanta’s decision will likely depend on two key factors: Murphy’s health and Baldwin’s continued development.

If Baldwin proves ready to become an everyday MLB catcher sooner rather than later, the Braves may have no choice but to reduce Murphy’s role significantly despite the money still attached to his contract.

At the same time, Atlanta probably understands that selling low on Murphy right now would provide minimal return while potentially forcing the organization to absorb substantial salary anyway.

For now, patience may be the Braves’ only realistic option.

But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: what once looked like another brilliant long-term extension for Atlanta is now evolving into one of the organization’s most difficult roster decisions of the next few seasons.