San Francisco Giants sign catcher Tom Murphy to two-year deal

Dec 19, 2023, 9:34 AM

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 23: Tom Murphy #2 of the Seattle Mariners scores on an RBI single by Ja...

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

While many players on the MLB free agent market continue to wait out star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s decision, others are signing deals with new teams as we close in on the holidays.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the San Francisco Giants have reached an agreement with free agent catcher Tom Murphy on a two-year, $8 million deal that will run through the 2025 season.

Murphy, a 32-year-old catcher who has played eight MLB seasons for the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners, also has a club option in his deal that could keep him in San Francisco for a third season in 2026.

If the Giants want to move on after 2025, they can exercise a buyout worth $250,000 after the season.

Catcher Tom Murphy’s deal with the San Francisco Giants is for two years and $8 million, with a club option for the third year that has a $250,000 buyout, a source tells ESPN. The 32-year-old vet will serve as Patrick Bailey’s backup. First with the agreement was @Ken_Rosenthal.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 19, 2023

More on San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy

Murphy has been a serviceable backup catcher during his time in Major League Baseball, one that has some pop at the plate and is viewed as a bat-first catcher.

The right-handed Murphy will be a solid compliment to Gold Glove finalist and switch-hitting catcher Patrick Bailey, while Blake Sabol could be sent to the minors or a bench role now that another backstop is in the picture.

Over 47 appearances with Seattle in 2023, Murphy hit .290 with eight home runs and 17 RBI while posting a .538 slugging percentage before having his season cut short due to a thumb injury.

Murphy has been a power hitter during his career, as the catcher has mashed 48 home runs and driven in 126 runs over 314 career games, which comes out to an average of 25 home runs over a 162-game span.

With Murphy in the picture, the Giants now have one of the best defensive catchers in the league in Bailey and a right-handed power bat in Murphy as San Francisco moves within two months of Spring Training.

Having Bailey, Murphy, and Sabol in that order on the catching depth chart could mean that former second-overall draft pick Joey Bart could be on the move this winter.

Bart, 27, is now the fourth backstop in the Giants’ organizational depth chart, and the Giants could look to package the catcher in a deal for starting pitching if they fall short in the sweepstakes for Yamamoto.

Over 162 career appliances with San Francisco at the MLB level, Bart hit .219 with 11 home runs, 38 RBI, and 178 strikeouts (35.4% K-rate).

San Francisco Giants Schedule

Spring Training

February 13-15th – Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training workouts
February TBD – Full squad workouts
Saturday, February 24th – Spring Training opener vs. Chicago Cubs

Regular Season