Keith Law thinking similarly:
“ Langeliers must be a value play for the A’s, as they already have a similar player in Sean Murphy. Both are strong defensive catchers with plus arms and above-average power, and Murphy was worth about 3 WAR last year in 119 games. Langeliers, Atlanta’s first pick in the 2019 draft, had 22 homers in 97 games last year, mostly in Double A, and threw out 42 percent of opposing runners, but like Murphy doesn’t hit for high averages or walk that much, posting a .256/.339/.494 overall line as a 23-year-old. The two players are so similar that I wonder if the A’s plan to move Murphy – perhaps to the Yankees, who could use a starting catcher of his caliber – and let Langeliers take over this year as a 24-year-old.”