There was some talk the Rangers could go after former fan favorite David Murphy this winter to come in and be a backup outfielder.
Instead, the Rangers went with Justin Ruggiano, who will most likely make the Rangers' Opening Day roster as a backup outfielder.
Murphy, instead, signed a minor-league deal with Boston, the team he began his pro career with, and on Monday he was released by the Red Sox.
"I didn't go out and light it up, but I think I did enough to prove that I'm capable," Murphy told ESPN.com. "I think as a man you're disappointed because you go into a situation and, as an athlete, I'm a competitor. You never want to go in the manager's office and [hear] that you've been released. But I think there's a lot of positives to it still. Maybe there's a little bit of disappointment, but I'm not distraught in any way. I think my career will move forward from here. Like I said, we'll see."
Now, Murphy is on the open market after putting up some serviceable numbers last year in time split between the Indians and Angels, but the 34-year-old outfielder said if he doesn't get a big-league offer he might be leaning toward retirement. He's a career .274 hitter with 104 home runs in 1,110 career games.
"Being at the point where I am, I'm 34 years old, I haven't played in the minor leagues since 2007, I have four kids now, I'm kind of pulled in a lot of different directions," Murphy said. "I think if I didn't get a big league job I would say that my mindset is leaning toward retirement. Hopefully that's not even going to be part of the process, because hopefully I'll get a big league job pretty easily."
