The Atlanta Braves have decided to bring in a veteran catcher after all. According to a March 17 report by Robert Murray of Fansided, the Braves have agreed to a minor-league contract with former All-Star catcher James McCann. Last season, McCann appeared in 65 games for the Baltimore Orioles, batting .234 with a .667 OPS, including eight home runs, 31 RBI, 27 runs, and 17 extra-base hits over 233 plate appearances.
The signing of McCann coincided with the Braves reassigning fellow veteran catcher Sandy León to minor-league camp. McCann had been linked to the Braves earlier this month due to an injury to starting catcher Sean Murphy, who suffered a cracked rib on February 28 after being hit by a pitch during a Spring Training game. Murphy is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
The Braves’ catching depth was already thin heading into Spring Training after they declined to pick up veteran Travis d’Arnaud’s team option during the offseason. With Murphy out, the team’s only catchers with MLB experience are Chadwick Tromp and Sandy León.
In Murphy’s absence, top prospect Drake Baldwin had emerged as the Braves’ projected starting catcher. Baldwin began catching the team’s top starters in Spring Training following Murphy’s injury, including Spencer Strider’s first outing in nearly 11 months on Monday.
However, with McCann now in the mix, Baldwin’s starting role is no longer guaranteed. That said, McCann is joining on a minor-league deal, so Baldwin remains the likely choice to begin the 2025 season as Atlanta’s primary catcher. McCann provides valuable depth until Murphy returns, potentially positioning himself ahead of León as the preferred backup once Murphy is back in mid-April.
McCann, known for his strong defensive skills, began his career with the Detroit Tigers before enjoying his best offensive season in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. That year, he earned an All-Star selection with a .273/.328/.460 slash line, 18 home runs, 60 RBI, and 62 runs. The 34-year-old has since played for the White Sox, New York Mets, and Orioles, maintaining a career .241 batting average and .673 OPS.
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