With another season of signing Daniel Murphy to an arbitration deal (worth $8 million), the Mets have their second baseman for one more season, if the team decides to not trade him.
Since becoming a starter in 2012, Murphy has been a consistent fixture in the Mets starting lineup, Murphy has hit over .285, posted an OBP that has been around .320, and has appeared in over 140 games. For a Mets lineup that has been banged around and constantly rebuilding, Murphy provided consistency that the offense desperate needed. Even with frustrations on the base paths and in the field, there has never been a question of whether Murphy could hit, but as the Mets seek to improve, it seems that their All-Star second baseman is expendable.
With Murphy set to become a free agent after the 2015 season, it seemed that it was now or never for a contract extension to be discussed. Sandy Alderson has attempted to trade his second baseman numerous times, as it was reported that he proposed Murphy to the Orioles for their top-pitching prospect Dylan Bundy in 2014. Although this deal would never go through, it showed that the Mets were not only trying to move their second baseman, but had high value on him as well. Other teams saw a super-utility player that was not worth a top prospect.
Sandy Alderson has an intriguing situation upon his hands, as the Washington Nationals have two shortstops that are free agents after this season in Ian Desmond and Yunel Escobar. Desmond’s presence in the Mets lineup would instantly push the Mets into being a legitimate playoff contender. As Mets360’s Tyler Slape wrote, Desmond is a good hitter and a good defender, but is not worth a top prospect. However, Ken Rosenthal suggested Murphy and a prospect going to the Nationals for Desmond. This is a pretty good deal for the Mets.
Without Daniel Murphy, the Mets would have a void at second base. The candidates to fill that position may not fill the offensive production right away, but would improve their all-around game with more at-bats and experience.
Wilmer Flores has had experience playing second base the past two seasons, and has a .989 fielding percentage in 165 innings when playing in the major leagues. Flores can handle second base, and is better suited for second, as his range would hurt him at shortstop. His bat would have the potential to match Murphy’s, as Flores had four consecutive seasons in the minor leagues where he drove in 75 runs or more. At age 23, Flores’ game has a lot of room to grow, but there is another contender who could be ready in two or three years to take full responsibility of second base.
At 20 years of age, Dilson Herrera got called up to the majors last season, and left an impression. Even though his average was .220, Herrera hit three homers and a triple in 18 games, showing that he would be able to produce at the big league level. It is an extremely small sample size, but Herrera showed that he can play. According to Metsblog’s Matthew Cerrone, Buster Olney said, “Herrera can be an All-Star second baseman.” If people inside the Mets organization feel this way, it makes sense that Murphy was signed to another one-year contract, as a long-term future with the Mets seems unlikely.
Whether starting at second base for the Mets on Opening Day, or getting traded, this arbitration signing displays the inevitable, that Sandy Alderson does not view Murphy as a Met for the long-term.
I understand the conundrum and inevitability of having to either trade Murph or let him walk at season’s end, but he will be missed, and not just for his bat. He’s a gritty, hard-working team player that you can win with. The fact that the Mets haven’t made the playoffs is far from Murph’s fault. I also like him as a 2 hole hitter and his lefty bat lends balance to the lineup. On paper he is easily replaced, but his intangibles are another matter.
Completely agree Matt, Murphy is my favorite player, and although he frustrates fans and coaches, he is hard working and has done everything the organization has asked him to do. Learn left field, first base and second base is hard to do, and Murphy did that for the betterment of the team. Going to miss him if he goes elsewhere.
Fantastic piece. I disagree with Matt about Murph in the 2 hole…I’m not a fan of him there as he swings a lot and he does not demonstrate any patience if there is a man on base. I actually think Murph is a fantastic 7 hole hitter….yes, bat him down in the lineup and let him swing and clean up RBIs the boppers don’t get.
I agree, I’ve never thought Murphy was an ideal 2-hole hitter. He clogs the basepaths and his OBP was never quite enough to hit that high. If Murphy was just a little more affordable, I would love to keep him on the team as a infield option to spell 1B, 2B, and 3B, but unfortunately it just won’t work out that way. I will miss seeing him in the Mets uniform, but ultimately I don’t know if he’s as big a cog in contending as some see him.
Thank you Dave for the kind words. I think if the Mets had more OBP guys, they would be in the first and second slots of the lineup, enabling Murphy to drive in runs. I think they feel comfortable that if the leadoff hitter gets on, Murphy can take pitches, hit and run, and advance the runner over, which would be a successful at-bat. The offense is still a piece or two away from that in my opinion.
The off season front office plan was rumored to be : upgrade to a shortstop that hits as good as Murphy, move Flores to 2B and trade Murphy. It never materialized. At this point, Murphy will remain a Met as long as the Mets are playing playoff contention baseball. If all goes well he will be a Met into October, and that will be fitting. If the Mets stumble then Herrera will be in Citi by July and Murphy will be involved in some other cities pennant race.
James,
If Flores lack of range would hurt him at SS, wouldn’t it hurt him at 2B also?
I assume, perhaps mistakenly, that both the SS and 2Bman have to cover pretty similar amounts of ground.
The difference, as I see it, is that the SS should have a stronger arm for the throws from the hole. On the other hand the SS usually has an easier throw on DPs due to his momentum going towards 1B.
It seems to me that Flores lack of range would make him a better candidate for a corner infield spot. But that wouldn’t fit the Mets needs. Thus, he is being sold as a middle infielder despite his minor league track record.
I completely agree Norme. Ideally, I think the Mets just want to improve the shortstop position’s defense, and are willing to move Flores (who is cheaper than Murphy) over to second and move Murphy. These aren’t necessarily my opinions, but what I see possibly happening.
You are right as well by saying Flores would be a better corner infielder, but with David Wright, the third base position is out of the question for the next couple of years, and he could be a first basement, but it seems Duda and Cuddyer will have that locked down for the next two years, so that is why the organization is selling Flores as a middle infielder.
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That’s a ridiculous statement. First off, the article is spot on given the Mets do not have any interest in negotiating a multi year tens of millions of dollars deal. Murphy won’t be a Met next year, and possibly not in Sept of this year. Such is the way of baseball. He is presently blocking someone with long team control and higher upside. Murph is not a second baseman on a playoff team. He’s a decent 6 or 7 guy in the line up who plays poor defense. I’d never throw 4/48 at him.
There’s a chance he doesn’t make it to ST if talks for Desmond still happen. He’s a logical fit for that team as he can play multiple positions, is cheaper than Desmond and would be playing next to a plus defender at SS in Escobar. If the deal was sweetened with some young, controllable pitching that will offset the loss of Zimmerman and Fister next and a young bullpen arm to replace Clippard, I think you have a deal. I wouldn’t deal Montero or Syndergaard, but the Mets are loaded there, so others can be moved.
Otherwise, I fully expect Murphy will be gone mid season and I will miss him either way.