7/28/14

Craig Mitchell -- Daniel Murphy, your days are numbered......

Bye-bye Daniel Murphy. Yes it’s true; Daniel Murphy was the Mets lone all-star representative this year. But I will venture to say that he will NOT be on the Mets in 2015 and there is some chance he may be gone in the next five days.

If that happens I imagine most Met fans are preparing to rip up their season tickets and toss their stuffed Mr. Met toys out their windows in protest. But, that wouldn't change the writing on the wall. Daniel Murphy’s time with the Mets…is about up.

Murph is a true professional hitter. That has never been a worry.  This year Murph is batting .293 with 7 homers and 38 RBI providing 125 hits currently tied for 7th in MLB.  Hitting has never been Murphy’s problem. Murphy has a career batting average of .290 along with a career OPS of .755 and OBP of .334.

Fans have come out and asked Alderson if he was planning on trading Murphy. And to his credit, Alderson answers have been cagey. But Murphy is one of the Mets best bargaining chips. Sure, the Mets have a ton of pitching they can trade for a position player, but does a team ever have enough pitching?  I mean, a year ago who would have guessed that Matt Harvey, Bobby Parnell and Jeremy Hefner would all go down with TJS (Tommy John Surgery)? Besides, a pitching prospect alone isn’t going to get the Mets their Giancarlo Stanton type impact player. They will need to put a package together that can fairly compensate a team like the Marlins for a player of that magnitude.

But why Murphy you say?  He’s our all-star second baseman. He’s a solid piece of our infield, our line-up. True he is. But the issue is, he’s also one of the players the Mets can replace almost instantly from within.  Met fans have been confounded by the fact that Alderson and Collins have not installed Wilmer Flores at short. Sure, he’s had stints at the position, but they have been hesitant to give Flores a long look at the position. Most fans, can’t figure out why. Surely it’s not misplaced faith in Ruben Tejada. It’s probably safe to say that the Mets do not see Tejada as the shortstop of the future.  The only adequate part of Tejada’s game is his fielding. His hitting, power and speed are all subpar.  So why isn’t Flores our starting shortstop? Frankly because if the Mets deal Murphy, Flores is the Mets answer at the position. Why create a hole to fill one?

It’s true. Flores is not a short stop. His trials at the position haven’t been horrible, as a matter of fact they've been pretty good, but he’s still only 22 and is expected to bulk up more. He is expected to be a corner position player, a DH or at the very least a second baseman.  The Mets have watched Flores tear up the Pacific coast league the past two years. Flores has not only flourished, but has dominated in the Mets highest level of the minors. If the Mets where to trade Murphy tomorrow, Flores would be installed as the regular second baseman. I’m thinking Alderson feels not much would be lost in the exchange. Maybe initially, but they are fairly confident Flores will hit.

So, if Murph is gone and Flores is at 2nd…..how will that affect the Mets defense up the middle? I’m
thinking not too much.  Flores has a much better arm than Murphy. His range is questionable, but it’s got to be equal to Murphy’s or better. From the sampling I’ve seen of Flores at short and third, I’m guessing it’s at least even, with an edge going to Flores for his arm and softer glove. Friday night’s game against the Brewers really explained why Murphy is expendable.  He committed 2 errors and his slow execution of a double play ball in the game came back to hurt the Mets as well. Murphy is not anywhere near a good fielder. He is inconsistent at best. He’s just as liable to let a sure double play ball hit right at him go through his legs as he’s liable to make an amazing diving play.  In the booth even Keith Hernandez has even said that Murph’s more spectacular plays would be routine with a player with better range.  It’s no secret that Murphy regularly plays a very deep 2nd base to compensate for his lack of range.  But, giving credit where credit is due, Murphy has worked very, very hard to get to where he is as a fielder. Learning the pivot on a double play has cost Murph two knee operations, but he executes that as well as anyone now. Likewise, it’s not his fault that he’s just not a natural second baseman.  He never will be. That’s just a fact of life for Murphy.

The Mets are also bolstered by the rising star of Dilson Herrera.  Herrera, a natural second baseman was
acquired last year in the Marlon Byrd trade with Pittsburgh.  Just 20 years old, Herrera was promoted to AA Binghamton earlier this year and he is ripping it up batting .353 with 5 homers and 30 RBI in 33 games with a .978 OPS.  In 67 games at single A St. Lucie he batted .307 with 3 homers and 23 RBI with a .765 OPS.  Herrera is just getting better and better. There is talk he may join AAA Las Vegas by the end of the year or may even be called up to Flushing In September for a look see.

Both Flores and Herrera could also be used a trade fodder as well, but the Mets would get a lot more for an established all-star in any deal that comes down the pike. Plus, it’s tough to argue that a better fielder up the middle would make the pitching heavy Mets even stingier defensively.

So, while I’m not privy to any “official” Met news. If you are fan of Daniel Murphy, I’m just giving you fair warning to prepare yourself. With team control over Murphy ending at the end of next season and his value being the highest it’s ever been, it’s a no brainer that Murph will be playing elsewhere between now and April of 2015.


14 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

It is for all of the reasons you state that the no-brainer of a move won't be made. The Mets faced a similar situation with Ike Davis and Lucas Duda then did nothing, going into 2014 with a lefty/lefty "platoon". It makes so much sense for them to deal Murphy and garner $8 million or so in next year's arbitration salary relief that they won't do it.

Tom Brennan said...

Matt Reynolds swooned recently but then had back to back HR games. He can take SS soon for the time being if no big deal is pulled off besides a Murphy trade. He has to be better than Ruben, if not right now, then very soon.

Mack Ade said...

Craig -

as I have said in other posts, I'm a big Daniel Murphy fan and I would sign him for at least three more years...

the Mets currently do not have a 'better' second baseman that Murphy...

let's see what develops by the end of the month

Anonymous said...

Its all about the return...if Sandy could get a haul of top prospects close to the majors...id do it...

But definitly dont just trade him to trade him...

Heres a question nobody asks, what is Wilmer Flores value, could he be a key piece in a trade to get us an outfield bat?

Mack Ade said...

Anonymous -

I've always been told (by scouts) that, because of his lack of position, Flores' trade value is close to nil.

Anonymous said...

maybe one of the best fits for DM, if he is to be moved now and not in offseason, would be the Giants along with Colon. The Sox picked up a bunch of $$ for Peavy (who got shelled yesterday) and Uggla proved very Uggly yesterday with his stone glove and K'ing in half of his ABs so far. not sure what we could get back from the Giants, but if the are serious about making a run, Colon and DM would slot perfectly into what they need. by shipping both together, you would substantially increase yield on return.

Tommy2cat said...

Not wise to trade Murphy at this time. We need hitting & he's a good hitter. He's been "the run scored" on several of Duda's 2-run homers. He's clutch late & close & plays a competent 2nd base, notwithstanding his difficult night in Milwaukee, which he atoned for with his bat.

Michael S. said...

I'd call the Cardinals and see if they'd move Piscotty.

Piscotty, Colon prospect, Gee, deGrom, Plawecki could be a monster offer for a bat.

Anonymous said...

It was always my belief that Flores is a 3rd baseman, blocked by Wright...

Michael S. said...

I think he can be sold to a team as a 3B

Anonymous said...

Trading Murphy is as unrealistic as trading for Tulo or CarGo

Michael S. said...

This comment makes no sense.

Anonymous said...

What is the logic in paying all this money for Wright and Granderson to turn around and trade away our best hitter (Murphy)

What is the logic of this long term rebuild around pitching to turn around and trade it away...

Anonymous said...

You keep Murphy, you keep Harvey, Wheeler and Syndengaard...

During the off season we can fill the SS hole by pursuing JJ Hardy, Jed Lowrie or trading for one of the Mariners, Dbacks or Cubs young SS