Fansided

5 sluggers teams should already be thinking about buying at the trade deadline

By Eric Treuden

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC Park on September 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game at PNC Park on September 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 08: Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 08: Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Sean Murphy. 4. player. 96. . Catcher. Oakland Athletics

MLB Trade Rumors: Sean Muprhy is a potential dark horse steal

Another catcher who could, and probably will, find himself on the move at some point this season is Oakland A’s backstop Sean Murphy. He, like Contreras, is one of the last players standing after the club dealt Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson and Sean Manaea the second the MLB lockout was lifted – at least that’s what it felt like.

Now don’t get me wrong, the A’s did fantastic in these deals; netting a whole slew of exciting youngsters including Kevin Smith, Gunnar Hoglund, Christian Pache, JT Ginn and Shea Langeliers to name a few, but Murphy’s days as a member of the Oakland A’s are definitely numbered.

Murphy, is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in all of baseball (his 2021 Gold Glove Award backs that claim up) and is becoming much better with the bat as he ages, especially when it comes to hitting for power. He didn’t receive a full season’s worth of playing time until last season but he rewarded the A’s with 17 home runs in 119 games. To begin 2022, he has 10 doubles, four home runs and 17 RBI through 31 contests.

A free agent at season’s end, the 27-year old Murphy would be a welcome fit on pretty much any big league team. Some contenders that would benefit from adding his bat and glove to their roster include the Mets, Yankees, Giants and even the Blue Jays.

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