Braves Add Veteran Catcher Eric Haase on Minor League Deal as Postseason Nears

As the Atlanta Braves fight to hold their lead in the National League East, the club has quietly bolstered its roster depth at a position of strength: catcher.

According to the MiLB transaction log, the Braves signed nine-year major league veteran Eric Haase to a minor league contract on September 1 and assigned him to the Florida Complex League. The move drew little attention at the time, but it gives Atlanta an extra layer of insurance behind a catching duo that has been one of the team’s hallmarks this season.

Drake Baldwin has continued to emerge as one of the franchise’s most important young players, while Sean Murphy offers a seasoned defensive presence. With October approaching, the Braves appear settled on that pairing — Haase is a contingency option should an injury strike.

Haase, 33, has had a nomadic 2026. He opened the year in the San Francisco Giants organization, appearing in 29 big league games before a July release. He then latched on with the Chicago White Sox on a minor league deal, made a brief stop at Triple-A Charlotte, and was released again in August before landing with Atlanta.

His production with the Giants was limited: a .162/.235/.365 slash line with four home runs and nine RBIs, along with 28 strikeouts against six walks. Still, Haase brings substantial experience, having appeared in parts of nine MLB seasons. His best campaign came in 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, when he launched a career-high 22 home runs.

On the field, the Braves enter Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at 85-61, holding a three-game cushion over the Philadelphia Phillies in the division despite having dropped three straight. The team is working to regain its footing during the season’s most consequential stretch.

Stock context

Shares of Atlanta Braves Holdings (NASDAQ: BATRK), which owns and operates the Braves along with the club’s mixed-use development business, traded at $49.32 in recent action, down 1.02% from the prior close of $49.83. The company’s market capitalization stands at approximately $3.24 billion, within the Communication Services sector under the Entertainment industry classification.

For a club with postseason ambitions, a minor league contract for a journeyman catcher carries minimal cost and modest upside — the kind of depth move contenders routinely make in September.

What to watch

• Whether Haase appears in any games for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates or is added to the postseason roster.
• The Braves’ division lead over Philadelphia heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
• Any injury developments involving Drake Baldwin or Sean Murphy that could elevate Haase’s role.
• Atlanta Braves Holdings’ next quarterly earnings report, which may address club performance and postseason-related revenue.

Source: original release