Veteran catcher Jonah Heim has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, according to a source cited by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While the Braves have yet to officially announce the deal, Heim is expected to join the team as an experienced backup behind reigning National League Rookie of the Year, Drake Baldwin.
Heim, now 30 years old, reached free agency after the Texas Rangers non-tendered him late last November. The Braves see Heim filling a critical role while their regular starter Sean Murphy recovers from a right hip labral tear and begins the season on the injured list. Heim’s veteran presence will provide valuable depth behind the plate in the early months.
During the 2023 season, Heim was a key contributor to the Rangers’ roster that captured the World Series title. That year marked the peak of his offensive performance, as he earned a starting role for the American League All-Star team. Heim finished with a .258 batting average, 18 home runs, and 95 RBIs, producing a .755 OPS and a 106 OPS+, all career highs.
Defensively, Heim won a Gold Glove Award in 2023, underscoring his strength as one of baseball’s elite catchers. Between 2021 and 2023, he ranked second among catchers and fourth overall in fielding run value, accumulating +38 runs saved according to advanced metrics. This defensive excellence complemented his offensive contributions and established him as a well-rounded player.
However, Heim struggled over the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, with declines in both offense and defense. Across those two seasons, he hit just 24 home runs and posted a significantly lower .602 OPS with a 76 OPS+ over 924 plate appearances. Defensively, he registered -4 fielding runs in that period, reflecting a notable regression from his previous standards.
The Rangers chose not to tender Heim a contract for the 2026 season despite still holding one year of team control under arbitration eligibility. Heim spent five seasons with Texas after being acquired via trade from the Oakland Athletics before the 2021 season. The trade sent Khris Davis and Dane Acker to Texas and sent Elvis Andrus, Aramis Garcia, and cash considerations to Oakland.
Jonah Heim’s Major League journey began in 2020 with the Athletics, making his debut in just 13 games that season. His ascension to the big leagues came over seven years after he was drafted in the fourth round out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013. Prior to reaching MLB, Heim was traded twice and accumulated more than 2,000 plate appearances in the minor leagues, highlighting his long road to becoming an established major leaguer.
As Heim joins the Braves, his veteran experience and prior success could play a key role amid a catching group adapting to injury challenges. His signing represents a strategic move to reinforce depth behind the plate while complementing a young and promising backup catcher in Baldwin. The Braves will count on Heim’s leadership and skills to stabilize their catching corps as the season unfolds.
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