It is not a surprise that Sean Murphy would be a hot topic at the MLB GM Meetings this week.
The Oakland A’s had already been shopping Murphy at the trade deadline. The Red Sox and Guardians both felt that they were close to acquiring the A’s backstop. It had been expected that both teams, as well as the Cardinals, amongst others, would be right back in the market for Murphy in the offseason. Prospective trade packages have already been theorized, setting the bar for the type of return the A’s could be looking for.
Oakland A’s have plenty of teams interested in Sean Murphy
Those feelers have already begun. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that general manager David Forst admitted that there is “no shortage of interest” in Murphy, expecting calls to continue all offseason until the A’s find an offer they cannot say no to.
Murphy is the type of catcher that teams hope to develop. He won the Gold Glove award in 2021 and was a Silver Slugger finalist this year, posting an impressive .250/.332/.426 batting line with 18 homers and 37 doubles in his 612 plate appearances. At 28 years old, and with three more years of team control left, most teams would love to have Murphy behind the plate.
For the A’s, trading Murphy is a matter of necessity. They are not going to pay to keep him around, especially with ownership pinching pennies and Shea Langeliers ready for his time in the majors. If they can get approximately 80% of Murphy’s production for much less, that is something they are going to gravitate towards.
But this is also a trade that the A’s are going to have to get right. Players such as Murphy are extremely valuable and rare. When he is eventually traded, they will need to get a return that can help bring them back to respectability.
The trade market for Sean Murphy is starting to heat up. It is just a matter of time before another Oakland A’s star is sent elsewhere.