Braves trade All-Star catcher Jonah Heim to Athletics

Jonah Heim (Jeffrey Hayes, Wikimedia Commons)

The Atlanta Braves have traded All-Star catcher Jonah Heim of Buffalo, New York to the Athletics for cash according to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors on Monday. Heim is returning to the Athletics after playing his rookie season in Oakland in 2020. Now the Athletics are based in Sacramento.

Heim also caught five seasons with the Texas Rangers. The 2023 Major League Baseball season was Heim’s most memorable year. He not only was an American League All-Star, but won a World Series too.

This was Heim’s first season with the Braves. The fact he was traded is not a huge surprise because he was brought on board while catcher Sean Murphy recovered from hip surgery.

Heim batted .231 with one home run and eight runs batted in with the Braves this season. In 12 games, 39 at bats and 45 plate appearances, Heim scored four runs and had nine hits, four doubles, five walks, 16 total bases, one sacrifice fly, an on base percentage of .311 and a slugging percentage of .410. The home run and sacrifice fly came in a 11-6 Braves win over the Colorado Rockies on May 3. This was a game where Heim had five runs batted in.

In Heim’s rookie season in 2020, he batted .211 with five runs batted in. During 13 games, 38 at bats and 41 plate appearances, Heim scored five runs and had eight hits, three walks, eight total bases, an on base percentage of .268 and a slugging percentage of .211.

In Heim’s All-Star season in 2023, he batted .258 with 18 home runs and 95 runs batted in. During 131 games, 501 plate appearances and 457 at bats, Heim scored 61 runs and had 118 hits, 28 doubles, two stolen bases, 40 walks, 200 total bases,  three sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .317 and a slugging percentage of .438.