Red Sox: David Murphy talks about return to organization
By Sean Penney
David Murphy describes the “surreal” experience of returning to the Boston Red Sox organization that drafted him in 2003.
It’s been nearly a decade since David Murphy was part of the Boston Red Sox organization, but it still feels like home.
The 34-year old outfielder was drafted by the Red Sox with the 17th pick of the first round in the 2003 draft. He would spend the next few years working his way through the farm system before making his big league debut in Boston during the 2006 season. Murphy would appear in a total of only 23 games for the Red Sox over parts of two seasons before being dealt to the Texas Rangers, where he was finally given regular playing time.
Now he’s back with the Red Sox after agreeing to a minor league deal this week. Despite being away from the franchise for so long there is a lot that he finds familiar in his return, as he explained to WEEI’s John Tomase.
"“It’s really surreal,” said Murphy. “When we first had contact with the Red Sox, there was just a lot of good feelings. There’s a lot of sentimental feelings, even if I didn’t spend a whole lot of time with the Red Sox at the big league level — all my minor league memories through just random things.”"
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A lot has changed since Murphy was last here, but there are some familiar faces in the clubhouse. He came up through the system with Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez, prior to when the latter was a hotshot prospect used as the centerpiece of a deal with the Florida Marlins that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston. Now Ramirez has come back as a veteran through free agency, while Pedroia never left. David Ortiz is still here too, as a longtime staple of the Red Sox lineup since the time Murphy was drafted by the organization. There are also various members of the coaching and training staffs that Murphy recognizes.
After the Los Angeles Angels declined his $7 million option Murphy hit the free agent market expecting to find another spot on a major league roster, but to his surprise those offers never came rolling in.
"“It was kind of the perfect storm,” Murphy said. “I know that I’m getting older. I know that the game is being analyzed differently now in terms of numbers and sabermetrics. I don’t know if that played into it. I know that there were a lot of good free agents out there on the market this year. I don’t know if I’m going to point to one thing.”"
Uncertainty remains over Murphy’s future, but for now he’s simply hoping that the Red Sox give him a chance.
"“They said there could be opportunity,” said Murphy. “A lot of it is going to be on my end, working hard and showing them I’m in shape, having a good spring, and we’ll see what happens.”"
It would appear that Murphy has an uphill battle to break camp with the big league team. Left field has been his primary position throughout his career, which makes him a potential contingency plan if Rusney Castillo fails to live up to expectations.
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Murphy would be an ideal platoon-mate to pair with the right-handed Chris Young, but if the expected alignment of Castillo, Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts open the season in the outfield together then it will be difficult to squeeze Murphy in. Doing so would likely cost Travis Shaw a roster spot, which would overload the roster with outfield options and leave Brock Holt to backup every infield position. If Shaw hits the way he did in the second half of last season then the Red Sox will want to keep him around, which means Murphy’s best shot at making the roster could be for Castillo to fail.
If Murphy does make the roster then he’ll earn a $2 million base salary, plus potentially another $1.5 million in incentives. However, his contract allows for him to request his release if he doesn’t expect to make the roster by March 27.
A numbers crunch in Boston’s packed outfield could lead to Murphy’s stay with the Red Sox being short lived, but for now he’s happy to be back where his career began and ready to compete for a spot.