MLB Power Rankings: 5 major changes thanks to free agency and trades
By Tim Boyle
3) MLB Power Rankings: How the Sean Murphy trade effects the Braves
The Atlanta Braves ended up winning the Sean Murphy sweepstakes when they acquired him from the Oakland Athletics on Monday in a three-team deal. The cost was pretty big and has an immediate impact on the major league roster. Notably, William Contreras ended up with the Milwaukee Brewers in this trade.
The Braves have had a curious offseason thus far. They haven’t been as active as the division rival New York Mets or Philadelphia Phillies. To their credit, the Braves also didn’t have nearly as many holes to fill.
When it comes to the MLB Power Rankings, the Braves haven’t moved up with this new addition behind the plate. One has to guess there could be more in store with Travis d’Arnaud still on the roster. Will the Braves really keep both of those starting catchers? Contreras at least made sense as a DH option.
The Murphy move doesn’t do much to help the Braves in the MLB Power Rankings. With Dansby Swanson also removed from the equation, at least for now, there’s a good argument to say the Mets or Phillies have caught them.
In the MLB Power Rankings, those three NL East beasts would probably rank in the order of Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia. They’re smack dab in the middle of the top 10 with the Braves looking like the number four or five ball club. Two teams in the division which may rank higher than them and the other NL East powerhouses are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. One more big addition to the Cardinals roster can confirm it.