MLB Rumors: One AL Team Most Active In Trade Talks For Sean Murphy

Gold Glove catcher Sean Murphy is on the trade block from the Oakland A's, and he is in strong demand in a league where A-list first-string catchers are hard to find. Murphy does it on defense, and at the plate. A new report suggests that the Cleveland Guardians are the most active team in trying to acquire the backstop.

Sources: #Guardians among the most active suitors for #Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, the 2021 Gold Glove winner who could be dealt by the end of the Winter Meetings. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 1, 2022

MLB Insider Jon Morosi believes that Murphy could be dealt by the end of the Winter Meetings which begin this Sunday.

Catching has been a bit of a problem for Cleveland, certainly on the offensive side of the ball. Austin Hedges and Luke Maile—both of whom are now gone through free agency—left the Guardians ranked 24th in baseball in Wins Above Average, and second to last (29th) in the entire sport in OPS, at .533. 

Murphy, in addition to his Gold Glove-like performance behind the plate (he won the award in 2021), hit 18 home runs with 66 RBIs this season with an OPS of .759.

And if the Guardians can't work it out with Oakland, the Toronto Blue Jays have some catchers for sale. With a front office of former Cleveland folks, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, there could be something to be done there. 

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