Overview
- Rosenthal reported Tuesday that Atlanta has yet to begin serious extension talks with 25-year-old catcher Drake Baldwin.
- Through 147 at-bats this season, Baldwin is batting .313 with a .392 on-base percentage, a .532 slugging percentage, and nine home runs.
- Analysts say any eventual deal could reset catcher pay, with estimates around five-plus years and roughly $120 million.
- The catcher market skews lower because of durability risks, and the top average salary right now is Cal Raleigh’s $17.5 million, with only Raleigh and Will Smith holding $100 million-plus deals.
- Baldwin is not arbitration-eligible until after the 2027 season and would reach free agency in 2030, which gives the Braves leverage on timing.