CHICAGO, IL — Left-handed pitcher Chris Murphy has broken the usual script, speaking candidly and from the heart about the sting of being shipped from the contending Boston Red Sox to the last-place Chicago White Sox.1 While the move was a necessary roster casualty for the Red Sox, for the 27-year-old Murphy, it has ignited a strange new fire that could quietly turn this risky transfer into the defining stretch of his career.
Murphy, who was traded in November 2025 for minor league catcher Ronny Hernández, was not angry—he was honest about the immediate anxiety and the ultimate relief and opportunity the trade represents.
The Sting and the Pride
Murphy admitted the suddenness of the trade, which came shortly after the end of the season, initially sparked fear that he was about to be designated for assignment (DFA)—a humiliating end to a tenure with his draft team.
- The Initial Fear: “I was like, ‘Oh boy. It’s one of two—it’s a DFA or trade, and I hope it’s not a DFA,'” Murphy admitted, per a recent interview.
- The Stinging Reality: Being dealt away by the Red Sox—the organization he was drafted by and who stuck with him through his 2024 Tommy John surgery—carries a sting. But he acknowledged the business reality: Boston’s left-handed bullpen depth chart was too crowded, and he was the odd man out, despite posting a solid 2$3.12$ ERA in his 34.2 innings in 2025.
The Strange New Fire: Opportunity Knocks
The reason Murphy is “not particularly upset” is that the trade immediately provides something Boston could not: a legitimate, open opportunity for a versatile role, potentially even a shot at being a starter.
- The Defining Chance: “My first thing was, ‘I wonder how they see me. I wonder if I can start.’ All things considered, I’m hopefully going to get an opportunity that I don’t think I was going to really get next year with the Red Sox,” Murphy confessed.
- Flexibility and Focus: White Sox General Manager Chris Getz has already highlighted Murphy’s versatility—his ability to pitch in multi-inning relief or even stretch out as a starter—as his key value.4 This flexibility is critical for a rebuilding club looking to see what they have in their younger arms.
- Post-Surgery Upside: The White Sox are also betting that, a full year removed from Tommy John surgery, Murphy’s command will continue to improve, unlocking the potential in his plus curveball and high ground-ball rate (5$54.3\%$ in 2025).6
The move to the last-place White Sox removes the pressure of pitching for an immediate contender and replaces it with the fire of proving himself in a full-time, undefined role. For Chris Murphy, this risky move from contender to rebuilder might be the best chance he gets to establish himself as a Major League mainstay.
