Giants Decline Tom Murphy's 2026 Option

The veteran catcher will become a free agent after 4 seasons with the team.

Mar. 8, 2026 at 8:34am by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco Giants have declined the $4 million team option on catcher Tom Murphy for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. Murphy has spent the last 4 seasons with the Giants after being acquired in a trade from the Seattle Mariners in 2022.

Why it matters

Murphy was a key part of the Giants' roster over the past few seasons, providing solid defense and occasional pop at the plate. His departure leaves a hole in the team's catching depth chart as they look to rebuild for the future.

The details

The Giants decided not to pick up Murphy's $4 million option for 2026, instead opting to part ways with the veteran catcher. Murphy joined the Giants in 2022 via a trade with the Seattle Mariners and has been a steady presence behind the plate for the last 4 seasons.

  • The Giants declined Murphy's 2026 team option on Monday, March 8, 2026.
  • Murphy has spent the last 4 seasons with the Giants since being acquired in a trade from the Mariners in 2022.

The players

Tom Murphy

A veteran catcher who has spent the last 4 seasons with the San Francisco Giants after being acquired in a trade from the Seattle Mariners in 2022.

San Francisco Giants

The MLB team based in San Francisco, California that declined catcher Tom Murphy's 2026 team option, making him a free agent.

Seattle Mariners

The MLB team that traded catcher Tom Murphy to the San Francisco Giants in 2022.

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What’s next

Murphy will now become a free agent and look to sign with a new team for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Giants' decision to decline Murphy's option signals a shift in the team's catching plans as they look to the future. Murphy's departure leaves an opening behind the plate that the Giants will need to address in the offseason.