With the trade deadline looming, the Atlanta Braves have made another move. They sent backup catcher Joey Bart to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for 26-year-old right-handed reliever Duncan Davitt, a rookie who has yet to establish himself in the majors. The deal, reported just an hour before the deadline, signals the imminent return of Sean Murphy to the Braves’ roster.
Bart’s tenure in Atlanta ends with a measure of gratitude from the club. His offensive production — an OBA and 96 wRC+ with two home runs — wasn’t spectacular, but compared to the catchers the Braves ran out there while Drake Baldwin and Murphy dealt with injuries, he might as well have been Jeff Bagwell. The hyperbole says as much about the team’s catching depth as it does about Bart’s performance.
The trade is clearly about roster space. Murphy’s return is good news for a Braves club that has lacked its primary catching duo for what feels like ages. His bat may come and go, but his defense is excellent at a position where defense is vital. Having him back gives Atlanta a reliable presence behind the plate.
Davitt comes to Atlanta just one day after recording his first career big-league strikeout. He made only two appearances with the White Sox before the trade. While Chicago and the Rays before them had used him as a starter in the minors, he was called up recently as a reliever. The Braves are likely to deploy him in a similar relief role when he makes his debut for Atlanta.
The deadline is rapidly approaching, and the Braves remain busy. Eli White, another player, is reportedly heading to Boston. Atlanta still needs a starting pitcher. Stay tuned.