The Braves have released right-hander Penn Murfee, reports Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The move clears a spot on Atlanta’s 40-man roster. Murfee was claimed off waivers back in November, non-tendered a few days later, and then re-signed to a major league contract just weeks after that. The sidearming righty posted excellent numbers with the Mariners in 2022-23 but underwent a season-ending UCL procedure late last June and figures to miss considerable time in 2024 as a result.
Injured players can’t be placed on outright waivers, though the Braves could’ve placed him on the major league 60-day injured list if they wanted to open a 40-man roster spot and keep Murfee as a possible down-the-road option in 2024. It’s possible Atlanta will look to quickly re-sign Murfee to a minor league deal so he can continue his rehab process with them, but today’s move ensures that he’ll have the opportunity to at least speak with the game’s other 29 clubs and see if he feels there’s a better opportunity elsewhere.
The 29-year-old Murfee made his big league debut with the 2022 Mariners and came out of nowhere as a quality middle-innings option. The former 33rd-round pick had never been a particularly prominent prospect within Seattle’s system and posted fairly nondescript numbers up through 2021 in the minors. His MLB debut campaign featured 69 innings of 2.99 ERA ball, however, and Murfee fanned an impressive 27.9% of his opponents against a very sharp 6.6% walk rate.
Murfee looked like the next in a long line of high-end Mariners relievers to emerge from obscurity. He opened the 2023 season with 14 innings of 1.29 ERA ball, albeit with a massive uptick in walks (17.2%). His already below-average fastball velocity dipped to an average of 88.1 mph, and Murfee twice landed on the injured list due to elbow inflammation in the season’s first couple months. By June 27, he’d been diagnosed with enough UCL damage that surgery was recommended.
It’s not clear just when Murfee will be cleared to return the mound. He unsurprisingly hasn’t pitched in a spring game while working through the rehab process. A return at some point late in the 2024 season seems feasible, provided he’s able to avoid any setbacks. The right-hander has 1.169 years of MLB service, meaning he can be controlled at least five more seasons, and he also has all three minor league option years remaining.
Throw away comment but Dale Murphy was one of the most underrated players of all time
Yep, very off topic.
Def
It’s not clear just when Murfee will be cleared to return to the mound, I don’t know about anyone else but I always return to the mound, must be the aroma…
To clarify, the smell of rosin, of course…
I’ll counter that with Eddie Mathews for the Braves. All time it’s Arky Vaughan.
Whew good one!
Eddie Murray as well to stick with the Eddie’s
Underrated pitchers are weird, but it’s Robin Roberts or Lefty Grove for me.
(P.S. Johnny Mize is a close second on the most underrated players list.)
Darrell Evans, Bobby Grich, and Jimmy Wynn are a few others.
Arky Vaughan is my first cousin twice removed.
Counter that met Eddie a cpl times. both times he was lit so times reeked of booze. Well past his playing days of course, but both times in official capacities for Atlanta organization.
Not profesional to be staggering around, reeking of alcohol, even if were (then) a future HOF player,
Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan is not appreciated?
I know it’s hard to find unappreciated Hall of Famers, but I find it surprising not to see that many people understand how great of a player he was, both on and off the field.
Underappreciated, not unappreciated…
And the most overrated players, in my opinion, are Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Tony Gwynn, Joe DiMaggio, & Ken Griffey Jr.
Overated list is tough cause they kinda gotta be a 5x All-Star
I’ll go Cal Ripken Jeter Nolan Frank Thomas and Carlos Correa for kicks
Pete Rose, too
Frank was a hof hitter. No overrated there. One of baseballs best hitters of all time. Underrated if anything
I’ll add Ozzie Smith to your overrated list. Back flips actually don’t win games.
I almost forgot about Ichiro now that I think about it…
Ozzie:The least deserving HOFer of all time?
Itchy Couldn’t drive in a run from second , terribly overrated
Mariano Rivera is the most overrated of all-time. There is no reason the first unanimous Hall of Famer should have been a relief pitcher. He only relieved because he couldn’t cut it as a starter. That vote is an outrageous blight on the game of baseball.
But really, is there anything special about being elected unanimously? Rivera is a Hall of Famer, but not an elite one. Elite closer, yes, but not an elite player.
even though he was a relief pitcher, he was the greatest as his position ever. You can’t argue that. The fact that he was the first is stupid just because it shows how stupid the voters are. Someone voted for 20 players and not Ken Griffey Jr. Rivera was just the first that you couldnt explain not voting for him because you can’t possibly claim anyone was ever better at his job.
Closers shouldn’t be hof worthy. Not Mariano not Eck Hoffman Fingers , good as they were for what they do. Not hof
Just like hitters that were bad defenders. No corner OFs or 1B should be allowed in HOF. unless they are GG at their position. What good is being a great hitter if you aren’t a great fielder.
By definition closers are failed starters. Guys who’s stuff doesn’t play five plus innings.
And someone like Lee Smith who was getting 2 and 3 inning savws well before Mariano took over 15 years to induct him. 3rd all time saves leader and he got snubbed year in and year out.
Tony Gwynn overrated? How? Same with Jr. How were they overrated but you leave out Roger Clemens, ARod, and Barry Bonds. All 3 would’ve likely been in the HOF had they not cheated. Tony Gwynn is one of the greatest players to ever play. As was Griffey Jr.
I like the feedback, but I consider longevity and the era the player played. If we were only to take the player’s peak, Griffey would easily be in the top 25. Gwynn played in a hitter’s era. His contemporary, Rod Carew, mainly played in the low-scoring eras of the 60s and 70s.
I know many people complain about Clemens, A-Rod, and Bonds, but you cannot tell the history of baseball without them. Their talents are too great to be ignored, with or without steroids.
W take.
Dale Murphy and Dwight Evans don’t get enough pub. They both produced, played the game the right way, and remain good guys off the field to this day.
Greenwell himself is actually a pretty good candidate for the list. Fred Lynn as well
And another underrated Sox outfielder, Reggie Smith
I know he wasn’t a Sawx, but you can’t forget about Lou Whitaker.
Was he a 33rd Round Draft Pick though ?
I based it on the player’s talent and their popularity among the baseball community. If they aren’t well known but have incredible talent, they would be on the list. It doesn’t matter when they are drafted.
Claimed. Released. Signed. Released. Make it make sense AA.
You forgot “probably resigned again”, it’s coming.
Go back to the Mariners. Go on the 60-day and be there for a late-season run.
I’d guess this is in response to the Duvall signing. They’re right up against the next salary cap level now and likely want some extra wiggle room. If he was on the 60 day IL, he’d count against the salary cap.
Could see the M’s reaching out to Penn. Makes sense, a natural fit like the Levi Stoudt homecoming. I was really surprised ‘we’ let him go considering he had success in a lot of big spots in that 2022-23 season. He also had surprisingly elite whiff % in the M’s Farm system before his debut.
He’s an easy guy to root for- you don’t see many 33rd Rd Draft Picks pitch in high leverage moments in the Majors.
MARINERS BRASS! Get off your @ss – sign Murf to a minor league deal, let him rehab and bring him back when he’s healthy. He was awesome to watch on the mound – the bats just missed!
Hope the Mets get him back on a minor league deal. I liked his stuff.
In this case, the tomahawk was mightier than the Penn.
bada bing
He has nice stuff. AA should resign him to a minors deal. Keep him in the org. He’ll be nice af in 2025
Teller has no comment.
Penn can rejoin Teller, ah never mind.
Best of luck to Penn. enjoyed watching him on the Mariners
Perhaps a good possibility he returns to M’s where he showed well. I’m sure the M’s have eyes open for his return. How about all the injuries even before the season begins?