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Braves Land Another Key Piece from Sean Murphy Deal

Posted on by Lisa Kachuk
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23
Sep

Braves Snag Joel Payamps: Another Twist in the Sean Murphy Trade Saga

The Sean Murphy trade keeps finding new ways to haunt the Oakland A’s. What was already viewed as a lopsided deal just got even worse, with Atlanta swooping in to reclaim yet another piece that once belonged to them.

A Trade That Keeps Looking Worse for Oakland

When the A’s shipped Murphy to the Braves back in that three-team deal with Milwaukee, they gave up their starting catcher — and somehow didn’t even land the second- or third-best player in the swap. On Monday, the Braves added salt to the wound by picking up Joel Payamps, the reliever Oakland had sent to Milwaukee as part of the original transaction.

At the time, Atlanta shipped William Contreras to the Brewers — arguably the most valuable player in the entire trade. Looking back, both the A’s and Braves might like a do-over. But here we are, and Atlanta just brought another piece of the puzzle back home.

Payamps: From Breakout Arm to Waiver Claim

Payamps isn’t a household name, but he’s quietly been one of the better relievers in baseball the past two years. Between 2023 and 2024, he put up a 2.78 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 129.2 innings for Milwaukee — steady, reliable, clutch.

This year? Not so much. The righty has cratered to a 7.23 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in just 23.2 innings, leading the Brewers to DFA him — twice. Atlanta claimed him on Monday, hoping a change of scenery brings back the pitcher who dominated just a season ago.

To make room, the Braves DFA’d Connor Seabold, clearing the way for Payamps, though he won’t join the 28-man roster immediately.

Why the Braves Made the Move

This isn’t just a late-season flier. Payamps has two years of arbitration left and won’t hit free agency until 2027. With a $2.995M salary this season, he’s a low-cost, high-ceiling bullpen option for Atlanta heading into 2026 and beyond. For a contender that always stockpiles arms, it’s the kind of move that could quietly pay off.

The A’s Return? A Total Bust

Meanwhile, Oakland’s side of this trade is a graveyard:

  • Kyle Muller is pitching overseas.

  • Freddy Tarnok has bounced between the minors and the Marlins.

  • Manny Piña barely played.

  • Esteury Ruiz was DFA’d and scooped up by the Dodgers.

  • Royber Salinas posted a 7.71 ERA in High-A, then got released.

That leaves… essentially nothing.

The Bigger Picture

With the A’s preparing for their move to Las Vegas, the front office insists these kinds of trades won’t define their future. Considering how this one turned out, that’s probably a good thing.

As for the Braves? They’re playing chess while the A’s are stuck playing checkers — and they just got another piece back from a deal that Oakland would love to forget.
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Lisa Kachuk