The Nationals have claimed Patrick Murphy off waivers from the Blue Jays, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com. Murphy was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays earlier in the week. Additionally, the club has released Rene Rivera, per Jessica Camerato of MLB.com.
Murphy worked as a starter in the minors through the 2019 season. At Double-A that year, he logged 84 innings with an ERA of 4.71. In 2020, with the minor league season wiped out, he was only able to get actual game action in the big leagues, pitching six innings out of Toronto’s bullpen, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks.
A consistent issue with Murphy has been injuries, which continued this year. He was placed on the 60-day IL back in February and began a rehab assignment in late May. Since that time, he bounced between the majors and minors, being optioned three times. He’s dominated Triple-A hitters in 14 2/3 scoreless innings, with a strikeout rate of 29.3%. Though that also came with a concerning walk rate of 13.8%. At the big league level, he has a 4.82 ERA, but in a small sample size of just 9 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old is in his last option year, meaning Washington can keep him in the minors for the remainder of the season. But once the 2022 season begins, they would have to either keep him in the majors or designate him for assignment again.
As for Rivera, this brings a very short Nationals tenure to an end. The 38-year-old journeyman catcher was released by Cleveland just over a month ago and signed on with Washington in mid-July. He was able to appear in just four games with the Nats. Between the two clubs, his slash line for the season is .232/.293/.362. He will now be free to sign with other clubs. However, Washington had placed him on the IL just last week with an elbow contusion. The severity of that injury could determine the level of interest from other teams.
Aside from the recent injury and based on the average of most backup catcher I do t understand how he can’t find a year long deal. Has some pop and pitchers like throwing to him
he made several mental mistakes in his few games with the nationals that cost them at least a run or two. Probably just unlucky but im sure that didnt help his case
Wow! I thought he was bench coach for the Crew! Interesting…
Patrick Murphy is a good prospect. After watching him pitch, he didn’t seem to have his head right when in the big leagues. I think 80% of his problems are mental. He has decent stuff. It was the same with Rowdy Tellez -great talent but mentally couldn’t put it together while with the BlueJays organization at the big league level..
Hopefully a change in organization can help Murphy out like it helped Tellez.
The Jays wanted a new group of relievers to blow games for them. It must be frustrating to be a fan of this dynamic team
I knew there was virtually no way that Murphy would go unclaimed, but I thought he wouldn’t have made it all the way through the AL teams. I figured someone like Tampa would take a look at him and probably turn him into something useful, or at least some team like the O’s or Twins would plug him in for an audition down the stretch.
At this point- after the trade deadline- I could be wrong,but aren’t waiver claims offered in order of overall W-L record and not to one league first and then the other?
@$210
You are correct sir.
Awful pitcher!