David Murphy Excited For Opportunity With Red Sox
BOSTON (CBS) -- It has been 10 years since David Murphy was last part of Spring Training with the Boston Red Sox, and the 34-year-old is happy to be back where it all began.
Murphy officially rejoined the Red Sox on Monday, now a non-roster invitee for the team that first drafted him No. 17 overall back in 2003. The outfielder didn't get much playing time in Boston, appearing in just 23 Major League games before the Red Sox sent him, pitcher Kason Gabbard and prospect Engel Beltre to the Texas Rangers for bullpen help in Eric Gagne.
While Gagne was a disaster for the 2007 World Series Champion Red Sox, Murphy has gone on to put together a solid 10-year Major League career. He spent seven seasons with the Rangers, sporting .275/.337/.440 splits, before splitting the last two seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He hit .283 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 132 games (including 111 starts) for the Indians and Angels last season, but was without a job this spring until Boston came calling.
Murphy was disappointed it took so long for his phone to ring, but he's happy to have another opportunity to prove he still belongs in a Major League outfield.
"I was a little surprised [I didn't get signed this offseason]," Murphy told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller. "The offseason didn't pan out the way I wanted to, but I'm in a situation now where I'm here and ready to do whatever I can to make this team. I'm exited to be back in a familiar place."
Much like it was back in 2007, the Boston outfield is a crowded one this season. This time instead of having Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp and J.D. Drew (along with Eric Hinkse, Brandon Moss and Jacoby Ellsbury) ahead of him on the depth chart, it's Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Rusney Castillo and Chris Young. Murphy will serve as an insurance policy for the Red Sox should Castillo or Bradley Jr. falter early, but he's eager to do whatever Boston asks of him this spring.
"I know that I'm not a superstar. I've been more of a role player throughout my career and I'm fine with that," said Murphy. "I like to think of myself as a winning player who can be a winning piece on a winning ballclub.
"I know that I need to show up every day and be a good teammate, work hard and have some good results on the field. At the end of the day even if I do everything I can control things may not work out the way I want them to. There is a talented group here, but I feel like I'll get some at-bats and my priority is to be on this team and help the Red Sox win a World Series this year," he added.
Murphy has an out date at the end of March, and he's hoping if there's no role available in Boston, he can prove to other clubs he's still worthy of a job elsewhere.
