Since “the Mets have showed no inclination to engage Daniel Murphy’s representatives in extension talks,” ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin believes the second baseman could be a prime trade candidate. The Mets seem likely to deal Murphy for an outfielder in the offseason, though one Major League executive tells Rubin that the Mets could get a higher return in a deal by waiting until midseason. Murphy is eligible for arbitration for the third and final time this winter before hitting free agency after the 2015 season.
Here’s some more news about the Amazins…
- Also from Rubin’s piece, he believes the Mets’ 2015 payroll will be around the $100MM mark. Though this is an increase from their $85MM mark this season, Rubin notes that the payroll was going to rise to roughly $93MM anyway due to player raises. Any further expenditures could have to be offset by moving existing salaries, like dealing Murphy or a starting pitcher.
- Speaking of trading a starter, Rubin feels that either Dillon Gee or Jon Niese are likely to be dealt this winter. Oft-cited trade candidate Bartolo Colon is 41, will earn $11MM in 2015 and is only contracted for the one year, so the Mets could command a higher return for one of their younger, controllable starters.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson spoke with the media (including Adam Rubin) on Sunday and noted that Citi Field’s fences in center and right-center field will “likely” be altered next season. “I think [the new dimensions will] be good for the game, good for the fans. I’m sure that one or two of our players will benefit as well,” Alderson said.
- Alderson also touched on the Mets’ need for a hitting upgrade, though he doesn’t think his team will need that great a jump from their current “middle of the pack” status in the NL’s offensive ranks to being a top-five offensive club in the league. Metsblog’s Matthew Cerrone notes that while many Mets fans clamor for a new slugger, the team’s power numbers were actually pretty good in 2014. “More than anything – the Mets need more hitters that put the ball in play. That’s it. It should not be overcomplicated,” Cerrone writes.
- The Mets will reassign hitting coaches Lamar Johnson and Luis Natera, sources tell Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. An official announcement on the 2015 coaching staff is expected to come on Tuesday. Bench coach Bob Geren will return next season, while former Met and fan favorite Wally Backman (manager of the franchise’s Triple-A affiliate) isn’t expected to be promoted to a big league coaching job.
I wonder if Niese has a leg up for staying as being the only lefty in the rotation.
I believe that Gee is more likely to go just because of the fact that Niese is the only lefty and there aren’t enough in the minors to consider moving him.
Gee is 28, starting to get into expensive arb years, and had an 87 ERA+, down there with the Rubby De La Rosa’s and Shawn Kelley’s of the world — oddly, also Justin Verlander. Just above replacement. You don’t get much at all for him, and so is probably worth more to the Mets as a hedge against one of the kids failing. I think they go big and trade Wheeler or Syndergaard.
If you look at their career stats, Niese and Gee are essentially left- and right-handed versions of the same pitcher. I think Niese gets a lot of attention being a lefty but he’s not much, much better than Gee as many people seem to think.
They’re similar, but Niese is quantifiably the better and healthier pitcher.
That’s exactly my point. Quantifiably better? Yes. Quantifiably much better? No.
They actually have Steven Matz whos a really good lefty and on the fast track and has a chance to make the rotation next spring if niese is dealt. Plus with any niese deal they can always get back a AA or high A lefty in the mix.
I would think they’re looking for major league ready SS or LF in any trade…especially when they deal pitching.
Wally > terry collins
Oh, you mean Wally “Bunt with my #3 hitter in the 1st inning” Backman? Yeah, not so sure about that.
I disagree – I’m not a fan of his in-game strategy or bullpen management. The team needs a forward thinker, not a blast from the past.
Yes, please move Murphy! Was an All-Star only because every team needs one. His bat is far too inconsistent and on the field is a joke. Herrera can fill in nicely for Murphy and play the position too.
Yes, but unfortunately other teams know this too. Not sure what they can get for him except an OK outfielder and salary relief. Maybe that’s enough.
I’m in favor of moving him, but at the same time if Wright is going to me MIA next year, Murph could be needed to fill any gaps. That being said I’m not quite sure who would want him and if he can actually bring back something worth letting him go.
Help me out. Off the top of my head I can think of. Arizona? White Sox? Cleveland? All three of those teams have pretty good SS prospects. St Louis has a lot of Outfielders as well.
I think Cleveland and St. Louis are pretty set at 2B. I also think that at this point, an outfielder is a bigger need than shortstop.
Murphy can play around the diamond, which is a nice asset to have. I think the Cardinals aren’t a perfect fit for him, but what if they wanted a starter? Then I think it becomes more logical. What that may be I’m not quite sure.
Murphy would have been an upgrade over the starters KC had at 1B/2B/3B for most of the year. He’s a better career hitter and defender at 1B than Hosmer and put up way better numbers than Infante and Moustakas. Murphy would be the perfect fit for a team built around contact hitters and would be a huge upgrade at 3B – if KC had acquired him at the deadline, they would probably have won the division.
Looking forward to them moving the fences in right field in. It may be only slight adjustments, but it is huge to the players. And the argument, “Well, the opposing team gets an advantage too” can also be said, the Mets have to play 81 games at Citi Field. So while they may lose 4-5 games over a season because of it, they may also win 4-5 more games because of the improvements. And if you have good pitching, there shouldn’t be a worry about allowing too many hits, that’s just out of the control of everything else.
They just moved the fences in a year or two ago. Lucas Duda doesn’t seem to have any trouble generating power at home.
Maybe the Mets just need better hitters who don’t worry so much about the fences.
Look at Duda’s home/road splits, they’re significant
Grandyman-630/796
Darnaud etc
At least in 2014, Duda’s splits seem to be almost entirely batting average driven, which is to be expected for a dead pull hitter in a larger ballpark.
I just want a neutral ballpark, I don’t want the ballpark to EVER be a reason for a player to turn down the Mets. That would upset me.
Unfortunately our ballpark has a reputation for ruining the careers of 3 big players in Wright, Bay, and Granderson. Whether or not the ballpark was the real reason, it is a prevailing thought, and it’s very possibility that it will lead to free agents being fearful of joining the Mets or even getting in their head after is just not worth it to me.
I loved Shea, it was slightly pitcher favored, but it was basically neutral and never a reason an offensive player would stray away from the Mets.
I think the Mets are the reason players turn down playing for the Mets…
In all fairness, the Bay contract was terrible.
Last offseason, before Brett Gardner’s extension, I thought a good trade could be worked out when at the time the Yankees needed a 2B, trade Murphy for Gardner
Now there’s no chance of that happening at all since Gardner is under a friendly contract the next few years and Murphy hits FA after next year
Yankees are rumored to put Prado at 2B every day, but he has experience at SS. Maybe the Yankees could trade for Murphy and put him at 2B, put Prado at SS. Murphy could also be backup at 3B for A-Rod (as can Prado).
Not saying it’s the best idea, the Yankees could also go to the FA market, but I think Murphy would do very well at YS and it wouldn’t cost them much either.
Prado is not a SS. Never has been, and certainly not now. That would be a disaster.
As if it’s a downgrade defensively from a 40 year old Jeter? (and they still have Brendan Ryan on the roster for next year so defensive subs can happen)
I’d be interested to find out why one MLB executive thinks waiting until midseason to trade Murphy could net them more of a return. The article cites that his $8-9MM salary will be more palatable halfway through the season, but a few extra million isn’t as much of a concern for other teams as it is for the Mets. A team trading for Murphy now would get a full season of Murphy. If the Mets waited, they’d probably be backed up against the wall a little and have less leverage, ie wouldn’t be able to command as much of a package.
Also, if they wait, they run the risk of Murphy starting out 2015 poorly and diminishing his value. imo, they should try hard to trade him ASAP and try to package him with either one of Niese, Colon, and Gee. Trading Murphy and one of those pitchers could also allow them to pursue Tomas.
I think the Mets should trade Niese & Murphy to Houston for OF Domingo Santana. Houston is set everywhere except for their left side of the infield, and Murphy being a natural 3B would be an offensive upgrade over Dominguez and the guy you’d want between Fowler & Altuve at the top of the order. Niese would be a solid fit in Houston that, unfortunately, has been a victim of a lack of run support the last 3 seasons. Everyone knows the Mets need a power bat in that OF, and this could be their best chance of getting one.
I think the specific trade you propose would be an overpay but Fowler would be perfect for the Mets. He could play RF and leadoff, moving Granderson to LF and adding the versatility of a switch-hitter to the lineup. He’d also be cheap and is only under contract for another year, allowing the team to maintain flexibility. I also don’t see the upgrade from Den Dekker to Santana; Den Dekker has put up better numbers with much, much better K% – suggesting more Major League success.
Why? Lagares is better and cheaper
How’s that an overpay for the 50th best prospect in baseball? The Mets need a power bat in RF, which would make Santana more sensible than Fowler, who doesn’t fit that criteria. den Dekker was always seen as a 4th OF type, while Santana is a starter with his plus arm, plus power, average range in RF & speed. As far as the K rates go, the Astros have noted that he needed to improve upon his plate discipline, which he did in AAA. He’s gonna strike out a ton, but he also has 30+ HR power. I like the upside.
I think the feeling is that Murph’s defensive shortcomings mean he is a less than ideal guy to plan on for a full year, but, in a pinch, if you suffer a devastating injury to your 1B, 2B, or 3B, being able to bring in a 110 wRC+ hitter and only commit $4-5mm and the rest of the year to him, it could be a season-saving move, which means you’d pay more in talent, mid-year. I’m on board with that logic.
Sure, but by that logic, Murphy would have been worth even more this past trade deadline. There were multiple teams with needs including the Royals and the As – but Murphy didn’t draw enough interest. If he didn’t do it in a career year with a cost-controlled season remaining, it really doesn’t make sense to expect him to bring an even better haul nearly a year from now.
In the past, Alderson has been reportedly asked for quite a lot for Murph. Rumors are that the Os turned him down when he asked for Bundy. SA probably figured that Murph, with a 110 wRC+ and costing very little, is worth more where he is than to give him away for a song. I’d venture to guess that they hold him this winter unless at top 25 MLB prospect is on offer. He insures Herrera’s final seasoning in AAA and also Wright’s injury concerns. Sandy’s probably counting on the inevitable injury to a starting infielder on a contending team, which may just be enough to bring that elusive top 25 prospect. Failing that, if Herrera settles in and Wright is fine, they can move him for pure salary relief, as he’s projected to earn over $8mm in his final arb year. Or, they can just hold onto him in his walk year.
I could see the Mets moving 1 or 2 of the following… Colon/Niese/Gee… for minor league depth… and perhaps making a small-scale signing of an OFer but as far as what is likely to happen… this roster is pretty much 95% set for 2015.
David wright is my fav player since piazza but I think it’s time to move him I would trade him to Boston for cespedes and middlebrooks than trade murph,Flores and gee to Toronto for Reyes yes Jose Reyes lol this solves ss,of and a lead off hitter that we haven’t had since Reyes left. Mets lineup could be; reyes,Herrera,cespedes,Duda,middlebrooks,grandy,d’araund and lagares
Rotation; Harvey,degrom,wheeler,niese and either montero,colon or syndergaard
The problem with bringing the fences in within the extreme pitcher parks is that it can only go one direction, thereby making the average ballpark dimensions smaller and smaller, which then makes what should be neutral parks like Busch Stadium look more and more like pitcher parks.
Then again, that could be a good thing with offensive numbers continuing to drop, but I still wish it was possible to counter these moves by doing things like pushing out the left field wall at Minute Maid Park (as well as demolishing the hill and flagpole in center field), the right field wall at Yankee Stadium, and the entire outfield fence at Great American Ballpark.
I’m no fan of Metsblog, but to be fair, Cerrone doesn’t say that the power numbers are ‘pretty good’ in his article and actually cites stats similar to the ones you have. He says that rather than focusing on power, the Mets should be trying to get guys who ‘put the ball in play’. I totally disagree with him (the Mets OBP numbers are a strength), but he doesn’t say that the Mets have ‘pretty good’ power numbers.
I don’t know about the OBP numbers being a “strength”…they were 9th in the NL, which is right about average, and guys like d’Arnaud, Flores, Murph, and Lagares sure aren’t helping.
Yeah, I worded that wrong. I should say that their organizational emphasis on OBP is a strength. Cerrone wanting them to sign and acquire guys that ‘put the ball in play’ seems like a wrong move to me.