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.
