"Murphy was having a quiet-yet-monstrous career when the Braves traded for him, as he had amassed 10.5 fWAR in 1,260 PAs while playing in Oakland for parts of four seasons, including a massive 5.2 fWAR/612 PA campaign immediately before the trade. He was stellar both offensively (.343 xwOBA) and defensively (basically plus two wins per season, inclusive of positional adjustment), and if anything, his value was actually tamped down relative to his inputs because he substantially underhit his xwOBA in both 2021 and 2022."
"After coming to Atlanta, the Braves seemingly gave him carte blanche to do his whole "swing incredibly hard in case you hit it" shtick, and he exploded with a .393 xwOBA while continuing to play elite defense. He earned 5.0 fWAR in just 438 PAs - that's a nearly 7 WAR/600 rate for those that don't want to do division and multiplication themselves. Again, Murphy substantially underhit his xwOBA despite dominating on the field."
Sean Murphy suffered multiple injuries including an Opening Day 2024 injury and a fractured rib in 2025, and ultimately underwent hip labrum surgery after trying to play through persistent pain. Recent bat speed data and continued impairment indicate diminished offensive effectiveness. Prior to joining Atlanta, Murphy produced 10.5 fWAR in 1,260 PAs with Oakland, including a 5.2 fWAR/612 PA season, and he delivered elite offense (.343 xwOBA) and defense. After the trade, Murphy posted a .393 xwOBA and 5.0 fWAR in 438 PAs for an approximately 7 WAR/600 rate. Playing time is uncertain due to Drake Baldwin's emergence.
Read at Battery Power
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