The Braves trade for Sean Murphy might be one that Alex Anthopoulos wants back as Williams Contreras collected his second Silver Slugger award in as many seasons since joining the Brewers.
While Sean Murphy has struggled for the better part of a year and a half, his counterpart is making a case for the best catcher in baseball. The Braves backstop had arguably the worst year of his career last season, finishing with a batting average below the Mendoza Line, 10 homers, and a career-low .636 OPS.
That followed a pitiful finish to the 2023 campaign too, in which he hit just .159 with a .585 OPS over his last 41 games. Murphy’s first half of baseball with the Braves went as well as it possibly could’ve, though, sniffing a 1.000 OPS and finding himself in the NL MVP race ahead of the All-Star break.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, Contreras has been playing like that for his entire time in Milwaukee, winning his second Silver Slugger in consecutive seasons.
After posting an .831 OPS and 17 home runs in his first year with the Brewers, Contreras improved upon that impressive production, setting career highs in a number of metrics. Wild Bill hit .281 with a .365 on-base percentage and .831 OPS. He hit 23 home runs, scored 99 runs, and drove in 92 runs — all career-highs.
He led all National League catchers in homers, runs, RBI, average and OPS. Since 2022, William Contreras leads all MLB catchers in average, OPS, runs, and WAR, while only second Will Smith in RBI and homers.
Sean Murphy’s story in Atlanta isn’t done being written, and he’s still arguably the best defensive catcher in the sport, but you’d be blind not to admit that this is one Braves trade that Alex Anthopoulos wants back.
—
Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.