Reports: Diamondbacks interested in catchers Sean Murphy, Christian Vázquez
Dec 6, 2022, 8:26 PM | Updated: 8:55 pm
Catcher Sean Murphy #12 of the Oakland Athletics throws out Oscar Gonzalez #39 of the Cleveland Guardians at first base during the fourth inning at Progressive Field on June 10, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly in the market for a catcher.
AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro reports that the D-backs, along with eight other teams, are interested in Oakland Athletic’s catcher Sean Murphy.
Meanwhile, The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham is reporting that there is a “very active” market for free agent catcher Christian Vázquez, of which include the Diamondbacks.
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Murphy, 28, slashed .250/.332/.426 last season and the A’s still have three seasons of club control remaining over him.
Therefore, the only way Arizona could acquire Murphy is via a trade, which general manager Mike Hazen has said he is willing to part ways with one of the team’s young outfielders.
Vázquez spent this past season winning the World Series with the Houston Astros.
The 32-year-old had spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox (2014, 2016-22) until being traded just before the deadline on Aug. 1.
Abraham adds that the catcher going back to the Astros is unlikely, as Vázquez wants a starting role and a 3-4 year deal.
What makes the D-backs’ interest in another catcher compelling is the fact that 28-year-old Carson Kelly has been the team’s starter when healthy.
He has been Arizona’s everyday catcher since coming over in the Paul Goldschmidt trade ahead of the 2019 campaign.
However, Kelly only slashed .211/.282/.334 this past season after struggling at the plate to start the year before a left oblique strain kept him out from May 8 to June 11.
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