The KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization announced that they have signed right-hander Patrick Murphy to a deal worth $277K. Right-hander William Cuevas was released in the corresponding move to open up an international roster spot. (Hat tip to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net.)
Murphy had been pitching for the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, but he was released from his minor league contract earlier this week, likely with this KBO deal already lined up. This is the second time Murphy has headed overseas to pitch, as he had a 3.26 ERA over 38 2/3 innings in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2024. He followed that performance up with a return to North America and a 3.18 ERA in 22 2/3 frames with Triple-A Round Rock, though with a 16.8% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate providing some less-inspiring peripherals.
With a promotion to the big leagues not looking too likely, the 30-year-old Murphy will now instead to South Korea for another chapter in a pro career that began as a third-round pick for the Blue Jays in the 2013 draft. Murphy’s MLB career has consisted of 39 2/3 innings with the Jays and Nationals from 2020-22, and the grounder specialist has a 4.76 ERA to show for his time in the majors. Since his last appearance in the Show, Murphy has also pitched in the Twins’ minor league system on top of his stints in NPB and with the Rangers.
Cuevas is another former big leaguer who posted an 8.06 ERA in 22 1/3 innings with the Red Sox and Tigers during the 2016-18 seasons. He has since carved out a long career with the Wiz, including a championship ring in 2021 for the first Korean Series victory in franchise history. Cuevas has a 3.93 ERA in 872 1/3 innings over parts of seven KBO League seasons, but a 5.40 ERA in 98 1/3 frames this season saw the 34-year-old fall out of the Wiz’s plans. In between his two stints with the Wiz, Cuevas played in the Mexican League in 2022 and with the Dodgers’ Triple-A club in 2023.