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Braves trade catcher Jonah Heim to A’s for cash.

5/5/2026

24 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Heim Traded

On May 5, 2026, the Braves traded catcher Jonah Heim to the Athletics for cash.
He was designated after hitting .231 with one homer and eight RBI in 39 at-bats.
Sean Murphy’s return let Atlanta cut Heim, prompting Oakland to plan him as Shea Langeliers’s backup.
His best game versus Colorado featured two hits, a homer and five RBI.

Summary

Cubs Acquire Lopez

The Heim trade joins a wave of early-season swaps as clubs fine-tune their rosters.
The Mariners sent Casey Legumina to the Rays.
The Cubs acquired Nicky Lopez from Colorado.
Oakland added catching depth behind Shea Langeliers, who is batting .336 with a league-leading 45 hits.
Atlanta retained catchers including All-Star Sean Murphy and 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin, who is hitting .315 with eight homers.

Summary

Heim Decision

The Braves must trade or release Jonah Heim in five days, or he will keep $1.5 million salary because five years of service time block an assignment.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II’s quad moving Mauricio Dubón to center forced a roster crunch.
Atlanta cut its 40-man roster to 39, dropping the catcher spot while Sean Murphy recovered.
He logged 103 innings, allowed no stolen bases and threw six wild pitches.

History

Historical Context

Marvin Miller secured baseball’s first collective bargaining agreement in 1968, giving the MLBPA power over salaries and arbitration. Later CBAs, such as the 2022 deal expiring in 2026, tightened service-time rules that influence roster decisions, as seen in Atlanta’s May 5 2026 trade of Jonah Heim. The 1990 collusion settlements totaled $280 million, showing labor accords shape roster strategy.

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Heim Traded

On May 5, 2026, the Braves traded catcher Jonah Heim to the Athletics for cash.
He was designated after hitting .231 with one homer and eight RBI in 39 at-bats.
Sean Murphy’s return let Atlanta cut Heim, prompting Oakland to plan him as Shea Langeliers’s backup.
His best game versus Colorado featured two hits, a homer and five RBI.

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