The Giants have turned down their $4MM club option on catcher Tom Murphy. He will get a $250K buyout and become a free agent. Justice delos Santos of Mercury News was among those to pass the news along.
It’s one of the least surprising option decisions of the year. Ahead of the 2024 season, the Giants signed Murphy to a two-year, $8.25MM deal. He made a $4MM salary last year and this year, then could have made the same salary in 2026 if the Giants had picked up the option.
Murphy only played 13 games in 2024 and didn’t play at all this year. Last year, a left knee sprain was the culprit. This year, it was an oblique strain, or least that was the initial thought. In August, Murphy spoke with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and expressed frustration with the fact that his injury was actually herniated disk which was misdiagnosed. Even with the correct diagnosis, things didn’t get better, as a clinic recommended by the team initially treated the wrong disk.
Though it seems this situation was out of Murphy’s hands, he had an injury-prone reputation before becoming a Giant. He had generally hit well when healthy but had never played more than 97 games in a season and only twice had he even reached 50 games in a season. The signing was a bit of a gamble on him being healthy enough to be a viable backup but that clearly didn’t work out.
The Giants turning down their option was therefore the expected outcome. Presumably, Murphy will be focused on getting as strong and healthy as possible before looking for bounceback opportunities for the 2026 season. The Giants go into next year with Patrick Bailey as their primary backstop, with Andrew Knizner and Jesús Rodríguez also on the 40-man.
Photo courtesy of Robert Edwards, Imagn Images
The next big dumper
I think he already did and didn’t flush.
That is yhe most ignorant comment I’ve ever read. So much so, that I actually logged in to reply to your comment. Cal Raleigh has been a consistent, healthy, and productive player his entire career. Tom Murphy is a player who never was, good guy, but he is made of glass.
I’m pretty sure the commenter is just messing around.
Probably. I am just scorned by the national media pushing that this was Cals first good year. This was his first amazing year for sure.
That took a lot of thought.
Murphy has been hurt ever since joining the Giants. He was never healthy enough to show the Giants whether or not he could ever be Bailey’s backup
Posey made right decision declining Murphy’s club option
Murphy couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn door then he got injured for a year.
Forever giant
I think that Murphy is pursuing action against the Giants for mishandling his health, so the Oracle probably had this as a fait accompli.
Not yet. He has complained about a mis diagnosis. Reads like the Giants effectively cut him loose after it became apparent he was done for the year.
Poor Tom appears to be on the Kris Bryant path, but without the huge money owed to him. That 250k might have to go a long way.
Nah.
He’s already stolen 12M in his career.
I could live on that for a long time.
Yes. Stolen. He put a gun to the heads of executives and made them sign him. Right.
I mean you can argue earned…
Lots of time off the field.
He got hurt on the job, mlb contracts are guaranteed, I don’t know that I agree they should be fully guaranteed. But both sides signed the CBA.
No one seems to remember, the guy got hurt while playing in the rain. Game should have been delayed. Bad conditions led to his first injury.
Wasn’t the Giants fault, it was the umpire crew who let the teams play on.
End of an error
Knizer will be dropped too and Giants will bring in someone like Caratini or Danny Jansen to fight it out with Rodriguez, in Spring Training assuming Jesus can measure up defensively.
Back up Catcher definitely a need and chance to improve. Let’s hope Jesus is the answer. (No disrespect)
One of the former regime’s worst signings. Felt kind of bad for Murphy. Disc problems are no fun. Good luck Tom with your health
Tom’s Health = Murphy’s Law
Tom Murphy, truly a hardlyevergiant.
I had to read this because I couldn’t remember who he was. That’s tough to read. Catchers are such unicorns these days one thing I’m hoping Cal does is inspire more young people to Persue catching again.
Wishing Murphy all the best
Yep. Catchers are a whole different animal. Getting dinged up nightly isn’t fun. Also tough to swing the bat at times with 5 doinks per game on hands and fingers. It makes what Cal Raleigh accomplished this year all the more impressive. He’s the hands down MVP in the AL imho. One of the most incredible seasons I’ve seen. Been watching and rooting for my Giants since 1964.