The Rockies have placed catcher Tom Murphy on waivers, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The club is hoping to find a trade partner for the out-of-options Murphy, per Harding. Regardless, it’ll enter the season with Chris Iannetta and Tony Wolters as its catchers.
A third-round pick of the Rockies in 2012 and a former top 100 prospect, Murphy hasn’t gotten much of a chance to establish himself in Colorado. While he did appear in the majors in each season from 2015-18, he didn’t reach the 100-plate appearance mark in any of those years. Murphy set a career high with 96 trips last season, but he limped to a .226/.250/.387 line with an absurd 44 strikeouts against three unintentional walks. In all, Murphy’s a .219/.271/.439 hitter with a 39.0 percent strikeout rate and a 6.2 percent walk rate in 210 major league PAs. Behind the plate, Murphy has thrown out 27 percent of would-be base stealers, right in line with the league average (28 percent), and earned slightly below-average overall grades from Baseball Prospectus.
It’s clear the 27-year-old Murphy hasn’t stood out in the majors, though he has shown off some power (10 home runs, .210 ISO) with the Rockies. He has also slashed an imposing .286/.335/.567 with 47 long balls in 875 PAs at the Triple-A level, and is coming off a spring in which he he hit .250/.323/.607 in 28 at-bats. Murphy’s offensive potential could help him latch on elsewhere, then, especially considering he’s still two years away from reaching arbitration.
The Rockies are turning back to Iannetta and Wolters, meanwhile, even though they made up a less-than-stellar duo for the lion’s share of last season. Iannetta’s the better hitter of the two, but he has typically struggled behind the plate. It’s the opposite for Wolters, a gifted defender whose lack of power has limited him to a .226/.322/.321 line in 712 major league PAs.
“This place ain’t big enough for two Murphies”
How can you let go a guy who is only 27 with plus power playing in Colorado. Bud Black never liked him. Hopefully he gets a chance to go to another organization and play
Because he is a AAAA player.
Real good in minors, not so good in the majors.
Many a player like that.
Well, not like the guy who beat him out is better
I agree. Why is Chris Ianetta even playing? He will be below .200 the entire year, and Wolters is the worst hitter in baseball. This is a personal thing against Murphy. The Rockies just blew the Penant.
Braves.. swipe him up. Prob shouldn’t. Have to have a roster spot right?
Once he’s placed on waivers he can’t be traded. If he was Designated for assignment then yes he could be traded or waived within ten days but once he’s waived (likely outright waivers due to a lack of options) then he’s not able to be traded.
MLB clearly says he was put on waivers, he’s out of options, and they are looking to find a trade partner.
If he passes through waivers, he can be sent to the minors.
Cannot DFA him, if he has no options left.
Reds will have the same issue with Robert Stephenson.
I feel as if he would be perfect in Kansas City. They aren’t going to the playoffs this year or next, let him get 500 ab’s and see what he has. They really have nothing to lose with Salvy out for the year.
Great young man, that couldn’t stay healthy when he had a chance to win the starting spot. Will be a nice pickup for someone.
Welcome to the Cubs for some 24 year old High-A reliever!
yeah I’ll bet he heads to the cubs
Murphy for Happ! Lol
In 2016, Murph was ranked a higher prospect than Story…..
So many of these” Top 10, Can’t Miss, Can never be traded,, the Future is BRIGHT!!!!” guys on the scrap heap this year…….
That happens every year. The problem is that most prospects never fail until after they are basically forgotten as top prospects and the next wave comes in. Fans always gravitate toward the unknown quantity ahead of the known quantity. There is still the chance that the new guy is going to end up as better than Ted Williams or Nolan Ryan.
With Mesoraco set to retire, Mets should take a flier and stash him in Syracuse
He’s out of options. Any team “taking a flier” would have to keep him on the 25 man roster or try to pass him through waivers again.
With his upside, SOMEONE will trade for him. Probably a non-contending team like the Marlins or Royals.