Daniel Murphy is returning to affiliated baseball, as the Angels have purchased the 38-year-old three-time All-Star's contract from the independent Long Island Ducks, the Ducks said in a press release. Per the release, Murphy will start his Angels tenure with Triple-A Salt Lake. Los Angeles has not confirmed the deal.

Murphy, who retired from MLB in January 2021, is best remembered for his epic performance for the Mets in their run to the 2015 National League pennant, when he homered in six straight playoff games, and his subsequent strong years for the Nationals, including a second-place MVP finish in 2016. He last played in MLB in the shortened 2020 season, posting a .608 OPS in 40 games for the Rockies. He has a .296/.341/.455 slash line with 138 home runs and 735 RBIs in 1,452 Major League games.

He returned to the diamond this year, putting up strong numbers for the Ducks while playing a mix of first and second base: a .331 average with an .861 OPS, two homers and 19 RBIs in 37 Atlantic League games.