MLB rumors: 3 best catchers likely changing teams this offseason
By Tim Boyle
2. MLB rumors: Athletics catcher Sean Murphy remains a trade candidate
Last winter included plenty of MLB rumors about where all 26 members of the Oakland Athletics roster could get traded. The team decimated its roster with many big trades. One player who never did end up getting moved was catcher Sean Murphy. This could soon change.
Murphy enters his first year of arbitration-eligibility which means he’ll start making a couple million bucks. We all know the Athletics are notoriously frugal. Although he won’t burden the payroll too much, it’s still a great time to trade him. His value may never be higher.
Murphy is affordable. That makes him a contender to land anywhere. Even the fiscally-responsible Cleveland Guardians should be in the mix.
Last season was a far more impressive performance from Murphy on the offensive side of things than we had seen in the past. He batted .250/.332/.426 for the Athletics while adding 18 home runs and driving in 66. His 37 doubles help highlight what he did with a bat in his hands.
More notable is Murphy’s reputation as a defensive player. He didn’t win a Gold Glove again in 2022 but he was a finalist.
We should all expect to see lots of MLB rumors involving Murphy this offseason. Keeping him would be a mistake by the Athletics. Teams aren’t as tempted to trade for a catcher midseason outside of a major injury. Do a deal now and get the most you can from a larger field of ball clubs.