Braves acquire star catcher Sean Murphy from Athletics

The Atlanta Braves acquired star catcher Sean Murphy in a three-way trade with the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers that saw nine players switch teams, the organizations announced on Monday.

Murphy, 28, was among the most prized players on the trade market this offseason, and Atlanta — which dealt young catcher William Contreras to Milwaukee and still has veteran Travis d’Arnaud — pounced to get him.

In addition to moving Contreras, the Braves are sending left-handed starter Kyle Muller, right-handed starter Freddy Tarnok, veteran catcher Manny Pina and minor league right-hander Royber Salinas to the A’s. Also going to Milwaukee are right-handed relievers Joel Payamps (from Oakland) and Justin Yeager. The Brewers are sending outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the A’s.

The A’s, who have made a habit of acquiring young pitchers and watching them blossom in their rotation, get two big league-ready arms in Muller and Tarnok, both of whom pitched for the Braves last season.

Atlanta’s pitching depth helped land Murphy, who hit .250/.332/.426 with 18 home runs and played Gold Glove-caliber defense last season. Murphy, who has three years until he gets to free agency, will reach arbitration for the first time this season and was moved in part because of the emergence of catcher Shea Langeliers, whom Oakland acquired earlier this year in the Matt Olson trade.