David Murphy is a free agent again.
The Boston Red Sox announced after Monday’s spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at JetBlue Park that they released Murphy. The 34-year-old outfielder opted out of his contract with the Red Sox on Sunday, leaving Boston with 48 hours to decide whether to keep him on the major league roster to start the season or cut ties with him and allow him to test the open market.
By releasing Murphy, who was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee, the Red Sox are positioned to open the season with Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Rusney Castillo, Chris Young and Brock Holt in the club’s outfield mix. It isn’t a surprising development, but Murphy held out hope that Boston, which drafted him in the first round in 2003, would consider keeping him around.
“I mean, I think as a man you’re disappointed because you go into a situation and, as an athlete, I’m a competitor,” Murphy said Monday, according to WEEI.om. “You never want to go in the manager’s office and (hear) that you’ve been released. But I think there’s a lot of positives to it still. Maybe there’s a little bit of disappointment, but I’m not distraught in any way. I think my career will move forward from here, and like I said, we’ll see.”
The Red Sox offered Murphy an opportunity to stay with the organization at Triple-A Pawtucket, according to the outfielder, but that wasn’t an ideal situation for the 10-year veteran. Murphy is hoping to land a big league job elsewhere or else retirement could become an option.
Murphy hit .283 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .739 OPS in 391 plate appearances last season split between the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels. He played in 15 Grapefruit League games with the Red Sox this spring, hitting .265 (9-for-34) with six runs scored, three doubles, three RBIs and two walks.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
