Patrick Bailey is an exceptional catcher. The issue is he’s had very little support from a backup; will this year be any different? The recent news of Tom Murphy‘s injury points towards no. Murphy signed a two-year $8.25 million deal with an option for 2026 last offseason. Last season was tough for the 33-year-old. He played only 13 games before an injury ended his season.
Giants Face Continued Problems Behind Home Plate
This year appears to not be any different. Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Murphy had back spasms. She also said he went for an MRI to assess any damage. These were words many fans feared after seeing how Bailey has tired over the last two years.
Tom Murphy has had some back spasms and is getting an MRI today. The thinking is it isn’t major but with Murphy coming off a season in which he played only 12 games because of a knee injury, that’s going to be frustrating.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 16, 2025
Why was Tom Murphy signed last offseason?
The move to sign Tom Murphy was controversial then, not only because of doubts over his injury history. But, it also made it clear Joey Bart had no future in the organization. The second-overall pick in 2018 being traded for very little was bad enough. Seeing him succeed in Pittsburgh made it even worse.
Still, Murphy had been a successful backup in Seattle for several years. His strength against left-handed pitching made him a perfect match for Bailey. Murphy’s defense is below average, but he does have impressive pop times. A stat that would help a Giants team known for allowing easy steals.
It also appeared as though new manager Bob Melvin had no say in the signing. Slusser replied to a fan asking, “How much input did Melvin have in the Murphy signing last year?” with one word: “Zero.” This fact shows that, regardless of Murphy’s health, he is not the guaranteed backup for this team.
What are the other options for the Giants?
The main option would be the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, Sam Huff. He gives the Giants a younger option after being claimed off waivers in January from the Rangers. The 27-year-old has played 78 games across five years in the majors and had an above-average .768 OPS in that time. He is a capable major leaguer despite being far from the most exciting option. Plus, he would cost the Giants far less than Murphy is currently.
Another option would be a non-roster invitee Max Stassi. The 33-year-old hasn’t played in the majors since 2022 but has proven to be capable. In 2021, he recorded 2.9 WAR in only 87 games, primarily due to his exceptional defensive skills. The Giants will worry about his time away from the game. Still, he is a great option on a minor-league contract.
The final in-house option is fellow non-roster invitee Logan Porter. He is the wild card, having only played 11 games in the majors for the Royals. A .782 OPS across 218 games in Triple-A will give the Giants optimism about his potential success.
Of course, options remain on the free-agent market—most noticeably former Dodger Yasmal Grandal. Now 37 and many years removed from his five WAR seasons in Los Angeles, he remains a good option. He put together a good 73 games in Pittsburgh, and many projection systems expect the same in 2025. As a short-term option, he would be perfect. The question, as always, is how much money he’d want. Plus, whether the Giants would be willing to pay decent money for yet another backup catcher.
Conclusion
For now, we wait for the news on Murphy. Even if the injury is minor, a competition will still happen in spring training. The most important thing for the Giants is to provide Bailey with regular opportunities to rest. It’s a top priority for the Giants team, whether it’s Murphy, Stassi, Porter, or someone else. They must make it happen to be successful this season.
Main Photo Credits: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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