One of the key priorities Chris Getz outlined for the White Sox this offseason is upgrading the bullpen. On Tuesday, he took his first step toward trying to accomplish that goal.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Boston Red Sox traded Chris Murphy to the White Sox for 21-year-old catching prospect Ronny Hernandez, who owned a .679 OPS in Kannapolis last season.
The 27-year-old southpaw is coming off a solid season in Boston, where he posted a 3.12 ERA over 23 appearances out of the bullpen. Across 34.2 innings, Murphy’s strikeout rate (20.3%) and walk rate (13.5%) both dipped below league averages, but he made up for it with an impressive 53% ground-ball rate.
Murphy features a seven-pitch arsenal but leans primarily on a 94 mph fastball complemented by a slider and curveball. While he bounced between Triple-A throughout the season, major league opponents hit just .176 against him last season.
Although he debuted in 2023, the 2026 season will be only his third in the majors, as he missed the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In his rookie year, he posted a 4.91 ERA, recorded a save, and delivered strikeout (23%) and walk (8%) rates that were both better than league average.
Murphy gives the White Sox a much-needed left-handed option out of the bullpen, and his ability to generate ground balls should play especially well in a hitter-friendly ballpark like Rate Field.
