PHOENIX — The Dodgers traded minor league infielder Darwin Barney to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday for a player to be named later. A couple hours later, they named him after a famous sports writer.
Jack Murphy is a 27-year-old catcher who has 14 games of experience in Triple-A and 122 games of experience in the Australian Baseball League. Murphy stands 6-foot-4, was born in Florida, educated at Princeton and has a mustache. Since the Dodgers’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates are done playing this year, Murphy seems unlikely to get into a game before the season ends. He slashed .220/.309/.315 for the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate in 2015.
Barney, 29, saw action in two games with the Dodgers this season before he was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and remained there the rest of the season. Barney was designated for assignment on June 12.
The Blue Jays have already summoned Barney to the majors as insurance for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has a crack in his shoulder blade.