Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Claim Injured Reliever From Braves

The Houston Astros claimed an injured relief pitcher off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.

Tyler Maher

Apr 28, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Penn Murfee (56) throws a pitch
Apr 28, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Penn Murfee (56) throws a pitch / Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Astros stayed busy on the final day of the offseason, adding some bullpen depth on the eve of Opening Day.

The Astros claimed right-handed reliever Penn Murfee from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. They also placed Kendall Graveman on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move, as the veteran reliever will miss the entire 2024 season following shoulder surgery.

Murfee, 29, has already changed teams several times this offseason. Murfee ended the 2023 season with the Seattle Mariners but was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on Halloween. The Braves claimed him two weeks later, non-tendered him, re-signed him, and then released him again.

Murfee is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery that cut his season short in June last year. He was off to an excellent start with the Mariners before going down, posting a 1.29 ERA in 16 appearances. He also logged 16 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP in 14 innings, although he showed shaky command by walking 10 batters.

Before the injury, Murfee’s 2023 was shaping up to be a strong follow-up to his 2022 rookie season. Murfee went 4-0 with a 2.99 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 64 appearances for Seattle that season, helping the team make the playoffs. He pitched twice in October, giving up one run on four hits in 2 ⅔ innings.

It’s unclear when Murfee will be able to pitch again, but it likely won’t be until the second half of the 2024 season at the earliest. Assuming he returns to full health and picks up where he left off, he could be a good addition to Houston’s bullpen, especially with his postseason experience.

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Tyler Maher
TYLER MAHER

Tyler grew up in Massachusetts and is a huge Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox. He went to Tufts University and played club baseball for the Jumbos. Since graduating, he has worked for MLB.com, The Game Day, FanDuel and Forbes. When he's not writing about baseball, he enjoys running, traveling, and playing fetch with his golden retriever.

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