The Guardians and Athletics have had trade discussions surrounding catcher Sean Murphy, writes Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Murphy’s name has been in trade rumors since the offseason, when the A’s were poised to undergo a major selloff. He never seemed like the highest priority, though, given he’s not set to reach free agency until after the 2025 season. However, in one of the trades that the A’s did make, they sent Matt Olson for a package of prospects that included catcher Shea Langeliers. Since that time, Langeliers has been having an excellent season in Triple-A, hitting 19 home runs and slashing .280/.363/.529 for a wRC+ of 118. That theoretically gives Oakland incentive to trade Murphy, despite his remaining control, allowing them to improve elsewhere on the roster while letting Langeliers take over the catching duties. As such, Murphy has been the focus of recent trade rumors, with the Guardians apparently among those checking in.
The fact that the Guardians are interested isn’t terribly surprising. For one thing, they typically run low payrolls and would surely be interested in the fact that Murphy won’t even reach arbitration for the first time until this winter. Secondly, they haven’t gotten any offensive production from their backstops this season, with Austin Hedges and Luke Maile getting the bulk of the playing time. Though both are considered strong defenders, Hedges has hit .172/.235/.278 for a wRC+ of 46 with Maile slashing .192/.299/.273, wRC+ of 69. Murphy, on the other hand, has a .241/.317/.428 line for a 114 wRC+, making him an obvious upgrade with the bat. And he’s no slouch with the glove either, having won the AL Gold Glove for catchers last year.
Despite that lackluster showing from behind the plate, the Guards are still in the thick of the postseason mix. Their 52-49 record has them just one game back of the Twins in the American League Central and just 1 1/2 games behind the Rays for a Wild Card spot. Bringing on Murphy could give them a boost for the final months of the season but also for the next three campaigns. The A’s, on the other hand, are 39-65, the worst record in the American League, paving the way for their selloff to continue as planned.
They don’t have any real hurry to trade Murphy, meaning they can wait for a truly satisfying offer. As such, Meisel reports that the trade talks with Cleveland have yet to gain any real traction. If the Oakland decision-makers aren’t truly bowled over by an offer, they can sit tight and wait. Having Murphy and Langeliers on the same roster in the future wouldn’t be ideal but would certainly be workable, as long as some at-bats in the designated hitter slot were available to keep both guys in the lineup.
Still, if talks pick up again between now and the deadline, there are reasons Cleveland could push a deal over the line. At the end of Meisel’s piece, he notes that the Guardians have nine players who will likely need to be added to the club’s 40-man roster at the end of the year in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. A similar situation played out last year, when the club added ten players to their roster and had to designate seven others for assignment to create room. The only player on the roster headed into free agency this winter is Hedges, with Bryan Shaw potentially a second, as a the Guardians have a club option for his services next year. As such, the club might have to think about trades wherein multiple prospects are exchanged for a single big league regular. Although the A’s might be sticking to a high asking price, the Guardians might be the team in the best position to pay it.
Hes not a good hitter but hes great defensively. I don’t care about his wrc+ or whatever. Hes basically the catcher version of Joey Gallo with less walks and power. No team will overpay for him. I don’t even think hes worth a top 100 prospect but I know most people on here think differently than me
I think he’s slightly overrated. There aren’t many great catchers, period. Really good defensively and average at the plate equals Top 10 Catcher with the current state of things.
I’ve been an A’s fan for years in other cities and do you know how often I hear “A roster of nobodies”
Look at A’s ZiPS Projects vs. Performance differences over the last 10 years. The A’s royally outperform with “nobodies” They aren’t no bodies, they are all under the radar players.
Nobody even knew who Sean Murphy was until he was linked to trades yet he’s been playing GG caliber defense in the toughest defensive position yet, batting at an above average clip.
The Indians organization has prioritized defensive catchers who know how to handle the pitching staff. Any offensive output is simply an added bonus
Then that’s the reason why the Tribe shouldn’t (and probably won’t) ante up for Murphy. They’re getting good defensive play now, and they’d be trading for a decent upgrade offensively, but nothing earth-shattering. If it costs too much in asset capital, they should just say no, knowing they can turn to Bo Naylor next year and re-sign Hedges to work alongside him. There is no real reason to overpay for Murphy…let some other team do it.
This article is a bit of clickbait by way of Meisel anyway. I mean really, is it any surprise the Guardians and A’s have talked? Who hasn’t talked to the A’s? But we’re told in the fine print that there is no “traction” in the talks. So what makes this a big deal? Nothing.
Why would they want to resign Hedges? He’s not going to want to be the backup. He’s not going to want to take a decent pay cut and stay with the same team.
I love this comment. He’s only an average hitter that plays the hardest defensive position in baseball well as if that’s a bad thing.
No one is any version of Joey Gallo. Good or Bad. Right now, it’s very, very bad.
Lol, he thinks a gold glover at the most important defensive position on the field is similar to Joey Gallo?
Unless there’s another team pushing, I think the Guardians will probably not get this done. For them, the calculus is long term, more focused on next 3 years than this year. Given that, they’re better off waiting until the offseason for Murphy.
If you go on BTV, Murphy’s value right now is about 60. Before the season it was over 80. The more club control erodes, the lower the price the A’s can reasonably demand. If that difference in price point is the difference between them dealing or keeping someone like Valera, they are better off waiting.
The only risk to this is if someone else jumps to pay that price *now*, and Murphy isn’t available come the off season.
What’s the risk, really? Bo Naylor next year, working alongside Hedges? Is that disastrous? I think not. Bad trades are far more disastrous.
Exactly! Very well said, Avory!
Hedges is a free agent after this year. Maile isn’t.
If it were just a mentorship thing they could bring back Roberto Perez.
The other end of the calculus for the Guardians is that they need to offload some prospects. They already have a prospect heavy 40 man roster, with 6 yet to make their debuts after already having 10 debuts this year (Tena, Rocchio, Freeman, Morris, Vargas, Valera are all on 40 and not debuted). They also have about 8 or 9 top prospects who would need protected this offseason.
They can achieve that the same goal early this offseason, but they do need to trade for *someone*.
Hedges is well-liked by Francona; it’s not like free-agency is going to have suitors knocking down his door.
The hand-wringing and hysteria over the 40 man roster is rather amusing; there are a number of ways of adroitly dealing with this situation without throwing a number of well-regarded prospects at a team that has a nice but hardly overwhelming, catching talent when most of his value is in his length of control…control that Cleveland really doesn’t need, and the value of which diminishes every day.
As we all know, Francona LOVES terrible baseball players in droves. He collects them in his basement, I fear. Some say Michael Martinez is there right now!
If the Athletics want to expand a trade with the Yankees and offer Frankie Montas, Sean Murphy and Lou Trevino I would be fine with it. The Yankees could offer Oswald Peraza, Ken Waldichuk, Clarke Schmidt or Domingo German, Randy Vasquez, Trey Sweeney or Everson Pereira and JP Sears. I definitely look at the A’s as the perfect trading partner for the Yankees.
Get outta here. Yankees aren’t a “perfect fit” for every possible trade candidate and throwing a bunch of low rate players certainly won’t get it done
@Ajc38- it really doesn’t matter what you want. It matters what the A’s want. I feel you will be eating a lot of “humble pie” after this trade deadline. So get ready to open wide, fool.
im sure the as would love to wrap up two controllable, valuable assets and lou for the yankees spare parts and secondary prospects.
I think Valera, Rocchio, Epsino, Williams and B. Naylor are essentially untouchables. I think everyone else is fair game. Half their top 10 is middle infield.
Well Lefty has talked to Orioles fans about acquiring Joey Gallo if they trade Trey Mancini
For my trouble, they called me Spock and I was out of my Vulcan Mind
There’s defintiley a package that can be thrown together between Daniel Espino, Brayan Rocchio, Nolan Jones, Logan Allen, and George Valera.
There is no chance that Murphy gets 4 top 100 prospects and Jones.
I think the post said between those 4 a package could be made
I am not trading Espino, Williams, or Valera in any Murphy trade. Espino is the #10 prospect of all of baseball on MLB Pipeline.
Precisely why these talks haven’t gained any traction, and rightfully so from Cleveland’s perspective. I would understand Oakland’s ask but Cleveland’s never as desperate as most presume.
Cle FO is still shaken from when vast majority of MLBTR posters pointed out that they got fleeced on Kluber trade for some bum named Clase.
I would rather had 3 or 4 trades a day this weekend but tomorrow is going to be busy and Tuesday insane.
The night is not over yet. If Teams were willing to give up some Prospects we would have more Deals. Also if was August 31st,
Somebody will aquire a Catcher.
Bo Naylor is rocking this year in AA/AAA, so I don’t see the Guardians overpaying for Murphy or any long-term catcher. Maybe a one to two year fix, though.
Cleveland rarely trades poorly and are unlikely to overpay for anyone…. Vazquez will be cheap Tuesday morning
Seems odd to write this article and not mention Bo Naylor, Guardians catching prospect who has hit well at AAA for about 5-6 weeks and one could make a fair argument that he should be brought up tomorrow.
More than a little odd. It verges on gross oversight not to mention internal options that might mitigate what a team is willing to offer for a guy like Murphy. Comparing him only to Hedges and Maile is rather simplistic.
Trade him now !
Hey Cleveland if you want an slightly overrated defensive first catcher. May I suggest Stassi
I like Stassi, but at $7.5m next year, he’s a little rich for what Cleveland might be looking for.
It doesn’t make sense from Cleveland’s perspective to trade premium prospects (even if it is one or two) for a Catcher with 3+ years of team control when Naylor should be ready to start next season unless they plan on flipping Murphy over the winter or moving him or Naylor to a different position
Angels should swing a deal for Murphy. Stassi can be the backup and Suzuki can retire.
Which utility Infielder do you propose the Angels send in return because they have little else to offer?
Suzuki probably retires after the season and thanks to the extension the Angels gave Stassi he’s actually too expensive to be a backup Catcher
Gaurdians can have Murphy next year , but I want Chase Delauter . Murphy would be a better hitter out of Oakland . Hell pretty soon A’s will be out of Oakland.
Don’t kill me, this was compiled using baseballtradevalues.com and I’m simply going based off of their valuation, but this would make this A’s fan very happy, which I know I shouldn’t expect.. I doubt CLE gives up that much major-league ready talent, especially Rocchio, who would personally be my favorite acquisition.
Guardians GET:
Sean Murphy, C, 57.8
Ramon Laureano, OF, 32.1
Total Value: 89.90
A’s GET:
Gavin Williams, LHP, 24.9
Brayan Rocchio, SS, 21.3
Tyler Freeman, SS/2B, 15.6, CA
Nolan Jones, OF, 12.8
Oscar Gonzalez, OF, 7.7
Eli Morgan, RHP, 6.5, CA
Total Value: 88.80
{chuckle} I saw what you did there, slipping in Ramon Laureano as if he’d be of interest (not likely). Also not likely is CLE making a deal like this, because they know the pitfalls of putting so many eggs in one basket, especially when that basket (Murphy) is a good, not great player and, while Murphy comes with 3 1/2 years of control that’s what you’re essentially paying for more than the talent. And in return the A’s will get what, maybe 25-30 years of control of other players?
I truly hope Cleveland says no thanks, because Sean Murphy is no difference maker. It’s not like Oakland fan is going to mourn the loss of a star player or anything.
Lol.
for the first time in a long time, Cleveland is not looking for OF help! Kwan, Straw, Jones, Gonzalez is the best 4 man crew they’ve ran out in years.
I wouldn’t give up any of those Cleveland assets for those guys. Problem with that algorithm is that it measures current value not future value. If Kwan teaches you anything it’s that you’ve got to hold on until you know.
I think Murphy and Montas would be a good fit for the Cardinals. I would think they could get them for Carlson, Burleson, Knizner, and Luken Baker. Not sure what the exact needs are for the A’s though. Possibly even throw in Moises Gomez too.
Kind of Roberto minus 6 years. Is he worth a Top Ten? No……