Time to trade Murphy and move Flores to second base

2014 was the year blue and orange were supposed to begin supplanting pinstripes across New York. It didn’t happen.

Larger expectations are on the horizon for 2015 with a potentially devastating starting pitching staff and bullpen developing. In terms of a legitimate playoff run, most positions are adequately staffed. But shortstop remains the no. 1 issue driving Mets fans crazy and it’s time for a major change.

Incumbent Ruben Tejada has largely had the starting role for three years and fumbled a golden opportunity to replace All-Star Jose Reyes in 2012. Tejada’s 2011 campaign – when he covered second almost exclusively – was a tease. He put up very solid offensive and defensive numbers, leading many New Yorkers a little less tense after Reyes departed for South Beach. His fielding suffered a touch returning to shortstop in 2012, but his .289/.333/.351 slash fooled many. Manager Terry Collins continued to back Tejada the following two years, in which he sported a combined 0.3 WAR.

Crossing into the six-figure realm last year and entering his first year of arbitration, Tejada is extremely unappealing for a fan base looking to turn the corner. The front office tendered him a contract back in December when the shortstop dilemma was still an issue. If the Mets want a realistic shot at contending, Tejada must be a backup or cut.

If Tejada’s not manning shortstop, that leaves the other in-house option, Wilmer Flores. Signed as an international free agent as a 16-year-old in 2007, Flores has been on minor league radars seemingly forever. He finally broke onto the big league scene in 2013, sporting a .211/.248/.295 slash during his cup of coffee. The following year, he bounced between Triple-A and Queens early as a second baseman and shortstop, securing a Mets backup shortstop job in May. Flores continued to struggle offensively as Tejada was given repeated chances to resuscitate is career, but consistent playing time in August and September left fans with hope that a .251/.286 /.378 slash was a glimmer of his future.

Playing for a team that makes financial decisions more akin to a small-market team than their Big Apple home, Flores’ league minimum salary makes him attractive. Scouts have drooled over his offensive numbers; he hit for average and for power with ease in the minors. His arm isn’t bad either, but his range leaves a lot to be desired. A 42-point jump in batting average and league average range factor strongly suggests Flores is actually better suited at second base.

GM Sandy Alderson should strongly consider moving Flores to second base and seeking a less expensive option in the overpriced pool of shortstops. My personal preference would be Seattle Mariner Chris Taylor. With most of baseball awestruck by the power-potential of platoon mate Brad Miller, Taylor is quietly an intriguing option. He’s a solid fielder at short with soft hands, a decent arm and smart play to make his mediocre tools shine. Taylor has average speed but above average instincts on the base paths make him a threat to steal. At the plate, he won’t ever be a major power threat but could be a high average hitter with plenty of doubles. The catch is he’s still very young at age 24 and has all of 151 plate appearances in the big leagues – with an unsustainable .398 BABIP to boot.

Assuming Seattle’s demands for the young shortstop are not outrageous, Alderson should look for the necessary talent, and some salary relief, by trading Daniel Murphy. A gritty, jack-of-all-trades and leader on the team, Murphy was an All-Star last year who will likely be remembered after he retires as a borderline starter and fan favorite. On a Mets team starved for offense, the streaky second baseman could smash double after double when he was hot. And his defense at the keystone position is better than many expected, albeit it’s league average at best. But as Murphy enters his third year of arbitration after making $5.7 million in 2014 with solid offensive numbers and an All-Star selection, the hard and fast truth is Murphy is unlikely to live up to future salaries and is considered a valuable commodity right now. There are probably a few teams looking for a second baseman, or a 500 at-bat utility man, but for my money the Toronto Blue Jays look like a team committed to the playoffs in need of an upgrade.

In this scenario, Flores could likely serve as the backup shortstop, given enough reps in practice and playing time. Taylor could also spell second base, as some experts suggested when he came up. What happens on the bench is also an issue. Dilson Herrera could back up second, but he should continue developing as an everyday starter in Double-A. Eric Campbell has seen time at almost every position, although he profiles as a first baseman and left fielder. If a solution doesn’t appear in the minors or in the Murphy trade, veteran utility man Kelly Johnson is still a free agent. Johnson is a guy with a little speed, a little pop, soft hands, a good arm and just enough talent to see several hundred at-bats each year despite not winning a starting job. He’s unlikely to command much more than the $3 million the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles paid him in 2014.