Chicago Cubs rumors: 3 potential trades to acquire Sean Murphy

The Chicago Cubs have a hole to fill at the catching position after losing Willson Contreras this offseason. There are a few good free-agent options, and the Cubs have been linked to Christian Vázquez. Although landing Vázquez would be a great signing, the Cubs should have a backup plan. With the weak backup options on the free-agent market, the Cubs should look toward a trade. We have recently discussed the possibility of Oakland Athletics' catcher Sean Murphy, and with the Athletics' willingness to trade their stars, it is not out of the realm of possibility for the Cubs to trade for him.

Murphy had a solid 2022 campaign as he hit .250 with 18 home runs and 66 RBI. These stats are not anything special, but as a catcher, they are above average. The catching position is the weakest offensive position in baseball, so anytime there is a chance to acquire a catcher that can contribute offensively, it should be seriously considered. Not only is Murphy good offensively, but he also ranks among the best defensively as well. In fact, Murphy was able to bring home the American League Gold Glove in 2021.

What makes the 28-year-old even more appealing to clubs is the control they will have over him. Murphy will be under club control for 3 more seasons. He is a fantastic two-way catcher, and no doubt will generate interest. The Athletics have already received interest for the star catcher actually. MLBTR name drops the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and other teams not named the Cubs. With Murphy's ability to contribute on offense and his solid defense, the Athletics most likely have a very high price tag. The Cubs have a strong farm system and have the pieces to acquire him. The only question here is whether or not the Cubs are willing to give away that much talent for Murphy.

A little disclaimer here: Ian Happ will not be included. The Cubs have been in talks to extend him, and after not trading him at the 2022 trade deadline, they should extend him. However, because he is an extension candidate, that might turn the Athletics off. The Athletics have not wanted to pay their players recently, and I do not see them wanting to pay Ian Happ. With that said, here are 3 potential trades the Cubs can make to land Sean Murphy.

Trade 2) Cubs trade Adbert Alzolay, Luke Little

Luke Little was drafted in the 4th round of the shortened 2020 draft. He is a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher that the Cubs used as a starter in 2022. He has been up to 105 mph on the gun but will sit 94-97. Little could benefit more out of the bullpen and might make his way to the big leagues faster that way. His scouting report says that is where he will eventually land. With his power arm, high strikeout rate, and ability to miss barrels, Little could be a very attractive prospect in a trade offer.

The key piece here is Adbert Alzolay. Alzolay was very good out of the bullpen when he came back from injury in 2022. Before that, he was used as a starter. Alzolay can be used for both, and it will be up to the Athletics to use him how they see fit. However, his fastball velocity saw an increase out of the bullpen, and his command was excellent. Alzolay might be someone the Cubs want to hold on to, but to get this trade done, he may have to be involved in it. A trade with Adbert Alzolay and Luke Little should be enough to get this done given their potential

Trade 3) Cubs trade Chase Strumpf, Alexander Canario and Drew Gray

Chase Strumpf was drafted in the first round of the 2019 draft. This trade scenario is dependent on Strumpf not being picked in the rule 5 draft. However, I do not think he will because he is not major league-ready. Since being drafted, he has just not produced. He has a career minor league batting average of .235, but 2022 was his best power year. He hit 21 home runs and drove in 57. The problem with Strumpf is his strikeouts. He struck out 162 times in double-A this past season. The hope here is that the Athletics see the potential and a change in scenery will help Strumpf develop better.

Alexander Canario came to the Cubs in the Kris Bryant trade with San Francisco. In 2022, Canario exhibited some big-time power. He launched 37 home runs across three levels in the minors. In 125 games played in 2022, he struck out 147 times. However, with that power, you can accept the strikeouts. Canario will have to prove he can repeat that season. The Athletics might find this appealing. The potential with Canario is there but there may be reason for caution as he is expected to miss most of the 2023 season recovering from shoulder and ankle surgeries.

Drew Gray might be a name you have not heard and that is because he is just 19 years old. He was drafted out of high school in 2021. However, he had to get Tommy John surgery almost immediately and missed the entire 2022 season. In his 4 innings pitched in 2021, he struck out 9. An extremely small sample size, but it does show how good his stuff was before the surgery. He also made a jump in velocity with his fastball touching 95. He still has some stuff to clean up in his delivery according to scouts, but he is only 19 and has plenty of time to develop. The Cubs are in win-now mode (so we think), and Drew Gray is still at least 3-4 years out from being ready. If the Cubs want to land a catcher that can help them win now, they will have to get rid of some young talent.