The Atlanta Braves have signed one other key participant to a long-term contract.
After touchdown catcher Sean Murphy in a three-team deal earlier in December, the Braves introduced that the Gold Glove winner agreed to a $73 million, six-year contract.
The deal features a $15 million membership possibility for the 2029 season. Murphy will earn $4 million within the upcoming 2023 season.
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Catcher Sean Murphy of the Oakland Athletics appears on towards the Los Angeles Angels at RingCentral Coliseum on Oct. 4, 2022, in Oakland, California.
(Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures)
In 2024, his wage will improve to $9 million. From 2025 by means of 2028, the catcher is about to make $15 million. He has already dedicated to donate 1% of his annual incomes to the Atlanta Braves Basis.
Murphy spent the previous 4 years in Oakland with the Athletics, a workforce that misplaced greater than 100 video games final season. He joins a Braves workforce that gained greater than 100 video games in 2022 and has claimed the NL East title 5 straight instances.
The Braves gained the World Series in 2021. Murphy stated he’s wanting ahead to settling down on the East Coast.
“My spouse is wanting ahead to having a spot the place she feels snug, at the least for some time,” Murphy stated. “That is vital to us.”
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Lately, the Braves group has prioritized agreeing to new contracts with gamers who’re nonetheless underneath membership management for an prolonged interval. Over the previous yr, they reached long-term offers with Austin Riley and Matt Olson in addition to rookie stars Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider.
Harris acquired Rookie of the Year honors in November, whereas Strider acquired the second-most votes.
Atlanta beforehand signed outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and second baseman Ozzie Albies to related offers, making certain that seven core gamers are underneath contract for at the least three extra seasons — and infrequently for much longer — with membership choices that might lengthen the offers much more.
“It is an honor to be included in that blend,” Murphy stated. “Going ahead, I am unable to see this workforce being something however nice over the subsequent a number of years.”
Sean Murphy of the Oakland Athletics at bat towards the Los Angeles Angels at RingCentral Coliseum on Oct. 4, 2022, in Oakland, California.
(Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures)
The Braves despatched All-Star catcher William Contreras and minor league pitcher Justin Yeager to the Brewers, whereas backup catcher Manny Pina and pitching prospects Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas went to Oakland in change for Murphy’s companies.
Murphy was heading into his first yr of arbitration and would not have been eligible without cost company till 2026.
Sean Murphy of the Oakland Athletics will get prepared for a pitch towards the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Area on July 13, 2022, in Arlington, Texas.
(Tim Heitman/Getty Pictures)
Braves basic supervisor Alex Anthopoulos was born in Montreal and stated he remembers what it was like when a participant he was keen on departed.
“I am positive there’s a little bit a part of me that is aware of what it is prefer to see good younger gamers traded away, or they could not maintain them,” Anthopoulos stated. “So, I believe there is a small a part of me that looks like from a fan-base standpoint, it is vital that if you are going to purchase a jersey, they’ll be right here some time.”
Murphy batted .250 with 18 homers, 66 RBIs and a .759 OPS in 148 video games this previous season. His defensive abilities earned him a Gold Glove in 2021.
Murphy is predicted to share enjoying time behind the plate with veteran Travis d’Arnaud. Contreras and d’Arnaud had been capable of keep comparatively contemporary all through final season by sharing catching and designated-hitting duties all through final season. The Braves are probably hoping for related workloads for d’Arnaud and Murphy in 2023.
Considered one of Atlanta’s hottest and productive gamers has left in free company for the second yr in a row. Final yr, former NL MVP and fan favourite Freddie Freeman departed for his native California and signed a long-term cope with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This month, metro Atlanta native Dansby Swanson signed a $177 million, seven-year cope with the Chicago Cubs. Swanson was coming off a career-best season and performed in all 162 video games in 2022.
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Vaughn Grissom, who was referred to as as much as the large league membership throughout the season to fill in at second base for an injured Albies, is the main candidate to exchange Swanson at shortstop. Infielder Orlando Arcia can also be an possibility.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
