The Oakland A’s are going to trade Sean Murphy.
It is just a matter of where he will end up. The Red Sox, Guardians, Cardinals, and Marlins, at minimum, appear to be candidates to land the A’s Gold Glove backstop. The A’s appear certain to get a strong return for Murphy, especially if this turns into a bidding war.
What Cardinals could give up for Sean Murphy
Naturally, there will be plenty of speculation as to what the A’s could get for Murphy. One possible idea was floated over at MLB Trade Rumors during their weekly chat regarding a deal between the A’s and the Cardinals.
It was noted that the A’s have generally had a model for the types of trade offers they have sought out. They have typically looked for a major league ready piece, a solid prospect that is relatively close, and a longer term prospect to bank on. That has been the modus operandi of the most recent rebuilding process.
With that in mind, a theoretical offer would involve Nolan Gorman, Tink Hence, and a pitching prospect in the back half of the Cardinals’ top 30 prospects. Gorman had primarily been a third baseman in the minors before shifting to second, a position where the A’s desperately need help. Hence was a second round selection in 2020 and raised his stock considerably with his performance in A-ball, but there are questions about his future role. Adding in another prospect for the upper minors, someone such as Connor Thomas or Freddy Pacheco, could be a perfect fit.
The problem is that the Cardinals are notoriously loath to part ways with their top prospects. This trade would make sense in theory, but it is questionable as to whether or not the Cardinals would want to part with that type of a package, even for a long term solution behind the plate. If that is what it would take to land Murphy, he may not end up with the Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals are expected to be a favorite in the Sean Murphy Sweepstakes. However, the quest for a top prospect could leave them on the outside.