Atlanta Braves
2026-06-19
The Atlanta Braves are dealing with the aftermath of an emergency trade that didn't quite pan out as they had hoped. Atlanta Braves acquired eight-year MLB veteran backstop Austin Wynns from the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month to help navigate injuries to catchers Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy. At the time, the addition of Wynns seemed like a practical move for a club trying to stay afloat while waiting for healthier options to return. Austin Wynns joined Sandy Leon as the Braves' catchers, but his stint was short-lived. He appeared in just six games for the Braves before returning to free agency. Darragh McDonald reported that catcher Austin Wynns has elected free agency after being outrighted by Atlanta earlier this week. Wynns has at least five years of big league service, so he has the right to reject outright assignments in favor of free agency without forfeiting any salary. And now, Wynns will look for his next opportunity, with catching depth always in demand. The Braves' confidence in Leon and the quick return of Baldwin made Wynns' departure inevitable. Wynns spent a little over a week on the roster with Atlanta until Drake Baldwin came off the injured list. The 35-year-old Wynns may have to settle for a minor league deal, but another opportunity could arrive quickly. Catching remains one of the thinnest positions across baseball, and organizations are constantly looking for experienced veterans capable of stepping into a roster spot on short notice. So, Wynns' experience and reputation as a dependable depth option will likely get him calls from other teams. The Braves, meanwhile, will continue to monitor the health of their catchers, with Baldwin now back in a designated hitter role. But the team's injury management and roster shuffling are far from over, with Sean Murphy still recovering from his injury. The Braves are enjoying a healthy lead at the top of the National League East division, and they'll need to keep making adjustments to maintain their position.