After Willson Contreras signed with the St. Louis Cardinals last week, the MLB universe was eager to learn the destiny of the other top catcher available in the market: the Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy.
Contreras was available just for money, but Murphy could be had via trade.
The Atlanta Braves, after a couple of weeks of rumors, won the Murphy sweepstakes and will now have another top backstop together with Travis d’Arnaud.
Yes: it seems like the Braves are betting on two guys to share catching duties.
William Contreras, an All-Star in 2022, was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the three-team deal that also involves the Oakland Athletics.
Details of the full trade are still emerging, but the always reliable Jeff Passan has the framework of the deal.
The deal sending Sean Murphy to Atlanta is part of a three-way trade with the Oakland A's and Milwaukee Brewers, sources tell ESPN. One of the players heading to Milwaukee is catcher William Contreras. Oakland is getting catcher Manny Pina.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2022
Besides Pina, a veteran, the Athletics are getting prospects in return for their star catcher.
Prospects For The A’s
One of the prospects that Oakland is getting in the transaction is former Braves right-hander Freddy Tarnok.
Braves sending No. 6 prospect Freddy Tarnok to A’s for Sean Murphy
The RHP made his brief pro debut in 2022, but in 25 minor league games:
106.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 44 BB, 124 K
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) December 12, 2022
He is a big, high-upside arm for the A’s who won’t be ready for 2023, but should be one to watch for the future.
Esteury Ruiz and Kyle Muller are also headed to Oakland.
Another player headed to Oakland in the three-way trade, per source: Superutilityman Esteury Ruiz, whom Milwaukee had previously acquired in the Josh Hader trade.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2022
LHP Kyle Muller is headed to Oakland as part of the deal, per source. More pieces are coming out slowly.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) December 12, 2022
The Braves are getting a top, young catcher with excellent offensive and defensive skills.
“Sean Murphy is really good, man. Arguably the best defensive catcher in the game. Really good hitter as well, especially outside of Oakland. 5.1 WAR last year and signed for 3 more seasons,” Scott Coleman tweeted.
Sean Murphy is really good, man. Arguably the best defensive catcher in the game. Really good hitter as well, especially outside of Oakland. 5.1 WAR last year and signed for 3 more seasons pic.twitter.com/jnoGB6wnEU
— Scott Coleman (@scottcoleman55) December 12, 2022
Murphy has some of the fastest pop times in the majors:
Fastest avg. pop time to 2B, 2022 (min. 20 attempts to 2B):
J.T. Realmuto: 1.82 seconds
Sean Murphy: 1.89 seconds
Martín Maldonado: 1.92 secondsMLB avg. pop time to 2B: 2.00 seconds
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 12, 2022
With the bat, he had a .759 OPS, 18 home runs, and a 122 wRC+ while playing for the Athletics.
He is an excellent acquisition by an already great Braves team.
