Outfielder David Murphy has opted out of his minor league deal with the Red Sox, according to several media members (including Tim Britton of the Providence Journal). The club now has 48 hours to either release the veteran or add him to the 25-man roster.
The move doesn’t come as a surprise, as there has already been speculation about other teams (namely the Orioles) that would be interested in Murphy if he was hit the open market. The 34-year-old hit .283/.318/.421 with 10 homers over 391 PA with the Angels and Indians last season, and he has a career .795 OPS against right-handed pitching, making Murphy a solid candidate for any club looking for left-handed bench depth or a platoon role. Murphy has hinted that he would consider retiring rather than take a minor league job at this stage of his career, though this could be a moot point if there is a solid market for his services.
If Boston puts Murphy on its Opening Day roster, he’ll receive a $2MM base salary for 2016 as per the teams of his minors contract with the team. It’s not out of the question that Murphy remains with the Sox, though the team has a number of outfield options to weigh. Even if Rusney Castillo is sent down to Triple-A, the Red Sox could use Brock Holt or Travis Shaw as the left-handed hitting side of a platoon with Chris Young in left field, rather than retain Murphy.
Wait for it…
The Red Sox should trade him to the Indians for Kluber, the A’s for Gray or the the Giants for Bumgarner, If they pit those teams against one another, they should be able to get one of their top prospects as well.
Or work a three-way deal ultimately getting Kluber AND Gray.
These “ironic” posts are more annoying than the originals.
No, they’re not.
the red sox already tried to make an offer for gray but I think the red sox said no once bean asked for bogarts or betts I think. Not sure
Yea they are
Definitely starting to be.
Yes they are.
they really are
Hmm…still waiting…
Give him some time. He is eating Easter dinner right now with his family. Soon it will be bed time so he will be on to give his trade proposal of the day.
“He who must not be named” has ruined the comment section
Hastur, hastur, hastur… Now get the user to speak it u are posting about?
I used to never read the comments, but ever since he started commenting regularly , I read the comments section of every article. He really revitalized this site for me; its been a lot more interesting lately
Same here. I skim the articles and go straight to the comments now (which I hardly used to read)
more like everyone who piles on has
Come on Arte, Make a move
It’s hard to figure how he didn’t get a job over the winter. Murph hit last year, he has a track record of hitting, can play somewhat fair corner defense.. At least worth 2-3m a season, yet flunkys, like De Aza manage to rake in 5m? I just don’t get it.
Murphy is a class individual. But he is a butcher now in the OF and has to be platooned against RH pitchers. In years past he might be a nice pinch-hitter for an NL team – but with teams now carrying 12 and 13 pitchers, a veteran platoon bat that cannot play D or make an impact as a baserunner simply cannot be carried. Teams are better off carrying a young player and seeing if he can adjust to MLB and be an asset into the future.
I was kinda thinkin my pirates could trade glasnow, bell, tallion, and marte to your sox’s for bucholtz and big papi. (sarcasm off). Bigpapi4life just traded kershaw, sale, and Arenado off his fantasy baseball team for Castillo.
I was thinking my Pirates could trade Glasnow, Bell and Polanco for mega prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. Sarcasm off
In other sports wouldnt the Orioles signalling their interest in Murphy constitute tampering, considering their expressed interest may havr affected Murphy’s opt-out decision?
Do you know what tampering is? They didn’t contact him. These are rumors anyway. If they contacted the Red Sox about trading for him, would you consider that tampering? Cespedes has an opt out after this season, so if a team contacted the Mets about trading for him would that mean they are tampering because they are “signalling the interest” and may want to sign him next off season? Nice try.
Well nothing official or unofficial actually came out of the Orioles office. It was just a speculation.
I would much rather have Nick Swisher!!!!!
Why?
Ruggiano may not make the Rangers, a team slapping together a veteran platoon of Murphy and Ruggiano right before the season wouldn’t be bad at all.
Murphy + Lars + Devers should be enough to get Gray and 2 low A-ball prospects with some upside.
Can’t blame him. I would wanna play for the Red Sox either.