Veteran catcher Jonah Heim is at Braves camp this morning, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. The team hasn’t formally announced a deal, but MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports that the two parties are in agreement on a one-year, major league contract. Heim is represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Heim, 31 in June, was a key factor in the Rangers’ World Series victory during the 2023 season, breaking out with a .258/.317/.438 batting line (107 wRC+) and swatting 18 home runs. He coupled that better-than-average offense — particularly relative to his position — with top-of-the-scale defensive grades; Heim nabbed 29.3% of the runners who attempted to swipe a base against him (well above that season’s average 20.6%), was solid in terms of blocking balls in the dirt, and was the fourth-best catcher in the sport in terms of pitch framing, per Statcast.
Given that the league-average catcher tends to be about 10-12% worse than the league-average hitter at the plate, having a plus defender behind the dish with 15- to 20-homer pop and better-than-average rate stats is immensely valuable. Heim rated as a plus defender in both 2021 and 2022, and his offensive improvements in ’23 looked to have thrust himself into the conversation for one of the most valuable all-around catchers in the game.
Instead, all aspects of his skill set have taken a step back in the two seasons since. He’s drawn league-average framing grades since 2023 and seen his throwing drop off considerably, with just a 13.7% caught-stealing rate in 2024-25. His pop time behind the plate has crept north of two seconds, and his average velocity on throws to second base dipped from 81.1 mph in ’23 to 79.5 mph in ’25.
Heim’s offensive decline has been even more glaring. He’s taken 924 plate appearances since that standout 2023 campaign but turned in an awful .217/.269/.334 batting line that checks in about 29% worse than league-average, by measure of wRC+. His strikeout rate hasn’t changed much at all, but he’s lost a couple percentage points off his walk rate and seen declines in terms of average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He’s also seen his line-drive rate fall a couple percentage points while his grounder rate and infield fly rate have crept north.
None of the changes in those key offensive rate stats are particularly large on their own, but a couple ticks in the wrong direction for that many rate stats has a significant cumulative effect. That’s especially true for a player who was only a bit above average with the bat in the first place. The Rangers, looking to scale back payroll, non-tendered Heim in November after failing to find a trade partner willing to take him on at his expected arbitration price. (MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected a $6MM salary for the 2026 season.)
Heim now joins a Braves club looking for a short-term backup to reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. Baldwin and veteran Sean Murphy looked locked in as Atlanta’s catching tandem last summer — until Murphy required surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. A timetable for his return remains a bit murky. Bowman suggests that Murphy is hoping to be ready at some point in May, though it’s not clear whether that’s early in the month or closer to Memorial Day weekend. The team figures to provide one in the near future with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp this week (today, in the Braves’ case).
Baldwin and Murphy are the only catchers on Atlanta’s 40-man roster at the moment. With Murphy expected to be sidelined to begin the season, backup options for Baldwin have included non-roster invitees Chadwick Tromp, Sandy Leon and Jair Camargo. Heim adds a higher-upside option and, after signing a big league deal, is the immediate front-runner for the backup job to Baldwin.
Heim has more than five years of major league service time, so once Murphy is ready for activation, Heim cannot be optioned without his consent. Those five years of MLB service also are enough that he can reject an outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett and retain any remaining guaranteed money on his contract.
Nice little move
Oh man that Heim is broken
…
I wonder if the plan is the carry 3 catchers so that Drake can DH or if this is just temporary until Murphy comes back in May? Either way, I like the move. Former All Star, plays solid defense, possible bounce back candidate, and if he plays well maybe Atlanta trades Murph.
I wonder if Murphy’s hip is taking longer than expected/hoped.
That’s what I’m thinking.
Why do they need him? I understand Murphy is injured, but what are they going to do when he comes back.
Release him. Or if he’s playing well trade him
That’s a lot of money for a part time/3rd string catcher. Murphy trade incoming?
Is it a lot of money? I haven’t seen how much the contract is.
For a 3rd string catcher, anything over the minimum is a lot of money.
I misread the article initially and thought it was 6mil.
Murphy slow recovery most likely. Good move either way, surprised no one bit sooner on him.
MLB should add one more roster spot and require that teams carry three catchers. Teams are so afraid of not having an experienced AAAA backup depth catcher that there’s basically a black market for backups and a whole process of claim and try to hide a third catcher.
That, or I’d love to see a coach/player type that could be an assistant manager (catching consultant/bullpen coach?) then suit up in emergency situations. Catchers are most likely to become managers later on.
If you do that, then you will have even more chances of teams hoarding catchers. With 30 teams in the league, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason that one team should have two top 10 catchers in the league on their roster. And then to add Heim to the mix when he is , at the very least, a solid #2 on most teams. And this is not the first time for Atlanta either. They basically wasted a couple years of Travis d’Arnaud’s still productive career sitting behind Murphy. It would be different if the Braves were set everywhere else, but they aren’t Do they even have a shortstop?
@hiflew — Waste? d’Arnaud was splitting time with Murphy and getting DH ABs. I believe he picked up more ABs during Ozuna’s suspension/rehab. IMHO, d’Arnaud took away playing time from Murph — who saw a lot more playing time in OAK before the trade. Sure, he went threw some slumps, but inconsistent playing time rarely cures that.
But also, the trend is having 2 backstops. A dream is for a team have 2 above-avg offensive catchers (which Drake/Murph both are) to split time at DH and keep them fresh and in the lineup. This is the first year they’re able to do that by not having a true DH (Ozuna) taking away lineup options. Considering the league-wide lack of catching depth, ATL is taking advantage of this by drafting/developing C talent to help on their team and benefit in trades (via Langeliers (Olson), Wm Contreras (Murph), etc.). There’s A LOT of reasons to have two top-10 catchers on a team, especially in ATL with their humid summers and rest is necessary.
They was supposed to sign gialito 1st
Eventual plan will be to carry 3 catchers and Murphy or Baldwin DH when they’re not catching.
Where’s Profar playing??? Yaz plays LF vs all right handed pitching. Not enough DH ab’s for more than one or two days per week for the catchers.
The Braves sure do love to acquire former A’s.
I believe the Braves will eventually trade Murphy after he comes back and establishes he’s healthy and somewhat productive. Right now when he returns and everyone is healthy either Profar or Murphy sits vs right handed pitching…career wise Yaz is now the Braves 4th best hitter vs righties OPS-wise(810 just behind Riley’s 811) so he’s not sitting. Kind of a logjam at DH with Profar and the catchers.
Interesting
Trade Murphy, Nacho & a young SP prospect for Mitch Keller
He was on the same all star team as Wander Franco with Dusty Baker managing if you’re wondering how quickly baseball changes in just two years