CLEVELAND — As the Cleveland Guardians enter the offseason, upgrading the catcher position is likely one of the team's top priorities.
And it appears they're already targeting one of the league's best.
According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, the Guardians are "among the most active suitors" for Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy. There has been speculation that the rebuilding Athletics will trade the 2021 American League Gold Glove Award winner by the end of the upcoming Winter Meetings as he enters his first season of arbitration.
While several other teams, in addition to Cleveland, have already been linked to Murphy, it's worth noting that the 28-year-old has Ohio ties. A native of Dayton, the Centerville High School product spent his college career at Wright State University before being selected by the Athletics in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
After making his Major League debut in 2019, the right-handed-hitting Murphy took over as Oakland's everyday starting catcher in 2020, finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. After winning a Gold Glove in 2021, he started 148 games in 2022, posting career highs with a .250 batting average (.759 OPS), 18 home runs, 66 RBI and a 3.5 WAR (wins above replacement).
While acquiring Murphy -- who remains under team control for the next three seasons as he enters his first year of arbitration -- would likely be costly, the Guardians have already shown a willingness to part with prospects from a minor league system that MLB.com ranks as the third best in baseball. Earlier this offseason, Cleveland traded its former top prospect, third baseman/outfielder Nolan Jones, to the Colorado Rockies with the organization still possessing an embarrassment of riches in its farm system.