9:14 pm: The minor league transaction log entry showing Leon re-signing with the Braves is not accurate, MLBTR has learned. Leon remains a free agent.
7:23 pm: Catcher Sandy Leon has returned to the Braves on a minor league deal, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker. The veteran was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, where he’s spent the majority of the past two seasons. Leon appeared in five games with Atlanta over the final two months of the 2025 campaign.
The 36-year-old Leon joined Atlanta as a free agent ahead of the 2024 season. He played in 79 games with the Stripers that year, but didn’t make an appearance in the big leagues for the first time since 2011. Leon had two separate stints with the Braves this past season. He made his MLB return on July 22, coming on as a defensive replacement. Leon was sent back to Triple-A on August 15, only to come back up a few weeks later. Leon finished the year with just one hit in 12 at-bats, though he made it count, launching a three-run home run off Craig Kimbrel on September 14.
Leon made his debut with the Nationals in 2012. He’s spent parts of 13 MLB seasons with seven different teams. The backstop had his longest big-league stretch with one organization from 2015 to 2019 with Boston. He appeared in 358 regular-season games with the Red Sox. Leon was part of the World Series-winning squad in 2018.
The 2016 season was Leon’s only campaign as a viable hitter at the highest level. He posted a 124 wRC+ across 283 plate appearances. Leon popped seven home runs and drove in 35 while splitting time with Christian Vázquez. He would never post another season with better than a 66 wRC+. Leon is more known for his work behind the plate. He threw out at least 36% of would-be base stealers in each of his first three seasons in Boston. Statcast began tracking fielding run value in 2018, and Leon ranked fourth among catchers that season.
Leon will serve as a depth option for Atlanta behind Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy. The Braves ranked sixth in OPS at the position this past season. Baldwin is among the favorites for NL Rookie of the Year after slashing .274/.341/.469 in his first taste of MLB action. Murphy failed to hit .200 for the second straight year, but did pop 16 homers in just 337 plate appearances. Murphy has been banged up during his tenure in Atlanta, so Leon could assume backup duties behind Baldwin if injuries strike again.
World Series odds just jumped up 😛
stretch – This is what we call a “Pump and dump”.
I wonder if the proximity of their AAA team is a bit a of a sweetener for a guy like Leon. He pretty much is what he is, and the ability to stick with the same housing situation regardless of whether he’s in the majors or AAA has to be nice.
He has a time share with Jesse Chavez!
Nice signing. Best of luck to the Bravos in 2026!
JK
It was a lie, still a chance for Boston to bring him home!!!
Fen – I would absolutely take Sandy over Wong.
Fever – id like to see Sandy in AAA as depth and see how things shake out in the spring.
I believe Wong will have his final option next season, so, could use it if he struggles
Sandy Leon will make a good coach and it’s probably about that time.
He’s still making good money playing baseball so it’s probably not that time
Psyche!
I’m just glad that the Blue Jays beat the Yankees! Now I’m hoping for a Brewers Blue Jays World Series.
In other news involving the Braves, they just fired Paul Davis, their Director of Pitching Development (2023-2025). Davis was hired by the Braves in 2019. He was formerly the pitching coach and Chief Pitching Strategist for the Seattle Mariners (2019) and also worked for 5 years in the StL Cardinals system (2013-2018).
Read 2 articles on Davis tonight. One claims he’s “been re-assigned” and the other states that “the Braves have parted ways with him according to sources.” Not sure which is accurate.
He homered off Kimbrel in September. Was it an old-timers game?
He is a 36 yr old catcher who hits .100? What?
Signed? I didn’t know he was still alive