Braves sign new C Sean Murphy to a $73 million, 6-year deal

FILE - Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, left, tries to tag Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15), who scored the tying run in the course of the ninth inning of a baseball sport in Oakland, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022. The Atlanta Braves acquired catcher Murphy from the Oakland Athletics as a part of a three-team deal on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, that additionally despatched catcher William Contreras to the Milwaukee Brewers. (AP Picture/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)(Godofredo A. Vásquez | AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves signed newly acquired catcher Sean Murphy to a $73 million, six-year contract Tuesday, locking up one other key participant with a long-term deal.

The contract features a $15 million membership choice for 2029 with no buyout that would elevate the full worth of the settlement to $88 million.

Murphy will make $4 million in 2023, $9 million in 2024 and $15 million every season from 2025 via 2028. He agreed to donate 1% of his annual wage to the Atlanta Braves Basis.

The deal follows a well-known sample of the Braves agreeing to new contracts with gamers who're nonetheless underneath membership management for an prolonged interval. Over the previous 12 months, they reached long-term offers with sluggers Austin Riley and Matt Olson, in addition to rookie stars Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider.

Atlanta has beforehand signed outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and second baseman Ozzie Albies to comparable pacts, making certain that seven core gamers are underneath contract for at the very least three extra seasons — and infrequently for much longer — with membership choices that would lengthen the offers much more.

The 28-year-old Murphy was acquired from the Oakland Athletics shortly after the winter conferences in a three-team deal that additionally included the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves despatched All-Star catcher William Contreras and minor league pitcher Justin Yeager to the Brewers, whereas backup catcher Manny Piña and pitching prospects Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas went to Oakland.

Braves normal supervisor Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged paying a heavy value, however stated it was price the associated fee to accumulate one of many sport’s prime catchers.

“We undoubtedly gave up a ton,” Anthopoulos stated on the time. “However we obtained a very good participant again. Getting gamers like that's laborious.”

Murphy batted .250 with 18 homers, 66 RBIs and a .759 OPS in 148 video games this previous season. He’s thought to be an elite defender, profitable a Gold Glove in 2021.

Murphy is anticipated to share taking part in time behind the plate with Travis d’Arnaud, a participant with comparable offensive and defensive strengths. These two are also anticipated to get intensive time at designated hitter, with the concept of protecting them as contemporary as attainable over the lengthy season.

The acquisition of Murphy has been the largest offseason transfer for the five-time defending NL East champions, who additionally added depth of their bullpen with a commerce for former All-Star reliever Joe Jiménez.

However for the second 12 months in a row, one of many group’s hottest and productive gamers left in free company.

One 12 months after first baseman Freddie Freeman signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson finalized a $177 million, seven-year take care of the Chicago Cubs.

Vaughn Grissom and Orlando Arcia are the contenders to be Swanson’s alternative until the Braves make a transfer to usher in one other shortstop earlier than opening day.

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