The Braves announced Monday that they’ve designated outfielder Stuart Fairchild for assignment in order to open a spot for veteran catcher Sandy Leon, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Fairchild, 29, has held a very limited role as a fourth outfielder with Atlanta this season. He’s appeared in 28 games and tallied only 55 plate appearances, during which he’s slashed .216/.273/.333. Manager Brian Snitker has typically used Fairchild as a late defensive replacement or pinch-runner. He’s tallied two or fewer plate appearances in 20 of his 28 games.
It’s a familiar role for the fleet-footed Fairchild. The former second-round pick has appeared in 277 big league games between the D-backs, Reds, Mariners, Giants and Braves, but he’s tallied only 670 plate appearances (about 2.4 per game) during that time. He’s capable of playing all three outfield spots at an average or better clip, sits in the 87th percentile of big leaguers in sprint speed, and offers slightly better-than-average production against left-handed pitching in his career. He’s a viable fourth outfielder, but he’s out of minor league options and the Braves have a comparable skill set on the roster in Eli White.
Leon joins Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy as a third catcher on Atlanta’s roster. His promotion to the majors will prompt immediate trade speculation about both Murphy and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. The Braves reportedly aren’t planning to trade Murphy — at least not during the season — but have been open to offers on Ozuna. Leon’s addition to the roster more freely allows Atlanta to start both Baldwin and Murphy in the same game (one at catcher, the other at designated hitter) without fear of losing the DH in the event of an injury.
The 36-year-old Leon has played for seven different clubs in the majors, primarily as a backup. The Braves will be his eighth. He has a long track record of quality defense and (with the exception of an outlier 2016 season) well below-average production with the bat. That’s not likely to change at age 36, particularly given Leon’s bleak .183/.250/.379 batting line in 169 Triple-A plate appearances this season.
Looks like old Stuart was consistent with his normal production in Atlanta.
I like this move especially if the Braves are going to try to trade Ozuna at the deadline. Hopefully a contender will come calling and the Braves can at least get a minor league for Ozuna. Baldwin and Murphy would be a good DH tandem and Leon can be some additional catching depth for the rest of the season
Or just maybe a deal between the Padres and Braves involving Murphy going to the Padres is in the works.
Did you see they are not trading Murphy in the off-season and not during season
Knowing how Preller will overpay for a player he really wants, the statement by the Braves that they are not trading Murphy could be a smoke screen for Preller’s ears.
It makes so much more sense to just carry Murphy and Baldwin. Both would benefit from the extra rest and you never wanna be in a position where you lose your primary catcher (especially, in that case, because it would be someone they had just signed recently who hadn’t worked as much with the pitchers). If you trade Murphy you still need a DH. So I just don’t get it unless you are blown away. But Murph is frustrating because he’s so all or nothing, either hitting crazy good or nothing at all for months. Either hitting every ball 100mph or swinging through every pitch.
Rushi,
Yes, it makes sense to keep both and have 1 dh while the other catches.
However, if a team like San Diego were to overpay for him, the Braves have to listen.
@Rishi — sure, but Murph is also in training mode with Drake, especially since they no longer have Sal Fasano as a catching consultant since last year. Drake really has taken strides defensively and SB prevention since beginning the season, while calling some great games. Despite some inconsistencies (remember he missed most of last year, then beginning of the season, so it may have taken him more time than most to get back into the swing of things), he still is posting a .847 OPS (134 OPS+). 2nd on team in HR and 4th in MLB in C in HR (behind Raleigh, Goodman, O’Hoppe).
They should consider moving him for anything less than a patented Preller overpay.
should not*
Murphy has been pretty good for the Braves. He is not so much up and down as he is, get’s rolling, freak injury, recovery, starts to get on a roll, another injury. Rinse and repeat. Even with his missed games and slow start this year, he is still fifth in catcher WAR when I checked ESPN last week (Raleigh, Smith, Narvaez, Kelly).
You are right about keeping them both. Murphy is one of the best in the league and Baldwin has cooled off significantly in June/July. He is basically just a smidge above league average those two months. His BABIP the first two months was well above expected, and that has come back down. Stil think he will be solid gogin forward, but let’s not get too crazy.
Actually his Babip that first month (approx) was crazy low then it was followed by a time where he could do no wrong. But I know what you mean. As to Murphy and inconsistency I was largely remembering 2023 too. Unless I forgot and he had an injury that led to him falling off a cliff offensively. He said it was partially the hot weather (not being used to it as he’d been in OAK). My point is just when he’s bad he’s a complete black hole who can’t hit the side of a barn.
Also, AA has been surprisingly talkative about deadline plans. Usually the Braves are silent about any potential moves. This could be an organizational headfake, or he is being candid for a change.
Sandy was his mentor at AAA
Go look at the actual monthly breakdowns of 2023. It wasn’t as long as people pretend either.
Yea it’s just he’s so hot when he’s hot that the numbers look good but the majority of the time he is an automatic out. Idk if that’s gonna always be that way but it’s not ideal. At least if he’s part time DH you can get him out when he’s bad and keep him in when he’s good. In fairness he’s been on fire twice this year as opposed to 2023 when it was just a real quick otherworldly stretch and then nothing all season.
I can tell you didn’t go look at those monthly breakdowns lol
Look at the 1st/2nd half. He’s still got plenty of plate appearances in 2nd half (especially for a C) and hit .175 with a .275 SLG. I see two great months and the next where his OPS was still solid but clearly there was a split as half the numbers arent good. He likely hit some homers early. He was atrocious half the season. We all watched.
To be specific the horribleness began on the 14th of July. Game logs can be found. He was good longer than I thought but still horrible for about half the season.
It sounds like Ozuna has accepted being traded despite his 10 and 5 rights. I doubt the Braves will get much more than salary relief and a low level prospect, unless they pay down his salary.
Long live Sandy Leon’s career! Keep it going!!
Not sure why they’d need to do this now just to trade Ozuna later. Unless Sandy Leon was about to exercise an opt out.
Sandy Leon couldn’t hit a fastball at age 26. He’s 36 now and I’m shocked that he’s still in pro-ball let alone being called up to the majors! If he bats over .100 for the Braves it will be surprising.
I don’t have anything personal against Leon, I’m sure he’s a good guy but there has to be better back up catching options out there other than him.
Who said Leon was even going to get an at bat?
If things stay as is, he will be an emergency catcher so that both Murphy and Baldwin can be in the lineup
You’re way over thinking a 3rd catcher
Murphy getting traded
Is exactly what is not happening.
Wait… is this the same Sandy Leon who was 67 in 2018 with the Red Sox???
Leon must be really good defensively if teams still want him as he has not hit above .193 since 2017
Sandy has also been a really good pitcher so he could be like an emergency pitcher…
You know that Alex is chomping at the bit to slash payroll. they’re already projected for 232 million next year before any additions
No mushy, they’re not. The payroll projection sits at $193.5 M. Going to be less than that if they deal off $ 16.5 M owed to Bummer and Johnson for ’26..