Daniel Murphy’s controversial presence on the Cubs had to be approved from the very top.
Murphy, who said in 2015 he disagrees with MLB ambassador Billy Bean’s gay “lifestyle,” was traded to the only team that features an openly gay owner. Laura Ricketts, a co-owner of the Cubs, gave her stamp of approval.
“Since several people have asked…yes, I was consulted prior to the Daniel Murphy trade,” Ricketts wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “There were several thoughtful conversations among Cubs executives, my brothers and me, as well as with Billy Bean, MLB’s Ambassador for Inclusion and the subject of Daniel’s 2015 comments.
“I know Billy and have immense respect for him and his work with the league. Billy, who has since developed a friendship with Daniel, was very positive and encouraging.”
Murphy has been grilled by Chicago media about the three-year-old comments, issued when he was a Met, yet has not stated whether he still is against Bean’s sexual orientation. What he has said is that in the aftermath of the comments, he and Bean have struck up a relationship. Bean gave his OK for the Cubs to complete the trade with the Nationals for the slugging second baseman.
“After these considered and thoughtful conversations, which took place precisely because of the Cubs’ sensitivities on the matter, I was on board with the trade,” Ricketts wrote.
On the field, the trade has immediately worked out for the Cubs, who are undefeated (5-0) with Murphy’s bat in the lineup. He’s batting .391 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs in the span.