DECEMBER 21, 3:50pm: Colorado has announced the signing.
9:00am: Murphy’s deal with the Rockies is frontloaded and comes with some deferrals, per Rosenthal (Twitter link). He’ll earn $10MM in 2019 and $8MM in 2020. The buyout on the mutual option is valued at $12MM and comes with a $6MM buyout, though $3MM of that buyout payment is deferred. If Murphy unlocks any bonus in the standard awards bonus package that is included in his contract — All-Star, MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, LCS or World Series MVP — the buyout will increase to $7MM (with $4MM deferred).
DECEMBER 20, 8:13pm: There’s also a mutual option for the 2021 season on the contract, tweets Robert Murray of The Athletic.
5:58pm: It’s a two-year, $24MM contract for Murphy, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. He’ll play mostly first base in Colorado, Passan adds.
5:46pm: Fancred’s Jon Heyman tweets that Murphy “is going” to the Rockies.
5:44pm: Murphy’s contract with the Rockies, if finalized, is expected to be a two-year contract, tweets Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
5:32pm: The Rockies are close to a deal with free-agent infielder Daniel Murphy, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post connected the two sides yesterday in a mailbag column. Murphy is represented by ACES.
Murphy, 33, will bring to the Rockies one of the game’s better left-handed bats. Presumably, he’ll be an option at both second base and first base in Colorado, helping to fill the void created by fellow free agent DJ LeMahieu. Murphy’s defense at second base has taken a turn for the worse recently, particularly following microfracture surgery on his knee last offseason, so it’s at least possible that the Rox view him more as a first base option than as a second base option. If that’s the case, then Ian Desmond would likely shift to the outfield alongside Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl.
What hasn’t taken much of a downturn recently is Murphy’s bat. While the three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner struggled a bit in his return from that aforementioned surgery, he caught fire after a brief slump. Over his final 293 plate appearances last season, Murphy flat-out raked at a .322/.358/.502 clip, swatting 12 homers and collecting 13 doubles along the way. He batted a combined .326/.375/.542 with 60 homers, 105 doubles and eight triples over the life of his previous three-year, $37.5MM contract, and he’ll take that production with him to the game’s most hitter-friendly environment: Coors Field.
Suffice it to say, Murphy will deepen an already-excellent lineup featuring Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story. He’ll likely join that trio and David Dahl in comprising the top portion of manager Bud Black’s lineup next season, as the Rox look to build on their 2018 NLDS appearance and put together a strong roster in their final season of club control over Arenado.
Given reports that Murphy’s primary position will be first base, it’s possible that general manager Jeff Bridich and his staff could yet explore the possibility of adding some additional second base options. However, between Desmond, Garrett Hampson, Ryan McMahon and Pat Valaika (to say nothing of looming top prospect Brendan Rodgers and some perhaps occasional work there for Murphy), the Rockies aren’t short on possibilities at the position.
While first base isn’t a position that Murphy has played much in recent years, he does have experience there. Murphy, in fact, logged 850 innings as a first baseman as a back in 2009, in a season where he didn’t tally a single inning of second-base duty at the MLB level. His playing time there has been more sparse in the years to follow, though he did play 83 innings at first base in 2018 and 151 innings there in 2016. Murphy drew terrific marks at first in that ’09 season (+11 DRS, 5.9 UZR), though that obviously carries little weight when projecting his defensive capabilities as a first baseman a full decade later. His defense there since the 2015 season has generally graded out as average in a very limited sample, and, as the Rockies showed with their initial signing of Desmond, they’re not afraid to move an infielder off his more traditional position and play him at first.
Murphy’s two-year, $24MM contract falls closely in line with the two-year, $20MM estimate forecast by MLBTR at the outset of free agency. As for the match with the Rockies, it was a relatively popular one among participants in MLBTR’s Free Agent Prediction contest, with roughly 6.6 percent of participants placing Murphy at Coors Field.
Great landing spot for Murph
dang it. now the Dodgers have to face him a lot more…..my hat’s off to him, he rakes.
Yeah…he killed the Dodgers in the 2015 NLDS…
Can this please end the Arenado trade rumors…they are so annoying…why would a team who just made the playoffs trade one of the best players in baseball
Doubt it but he could be replacing Arenado in the batting order. Either way it is a good signing. The man if healthy can still hit. In CO? The sky is the limit.
Look at his splits. He’s a product of Coors.
Yes, because this is just an automatic batting title for him. The Rockies will be deadly with Blackmon, Dahl, Story, Arenado, and now Murphy.
He’s still not good enough for a batting title. He’s good, but let’s not be hyperbolic.
How DARE you besmirch the legendary Bill Mueller like that! Plus, Rockies players RARELY ever even win batting titles! I mean, in their 25 year history, they’ve only captured that crown 11 times! That’s not even 50%! So Murphy has no shot considering he’s only hit .329 over the past three seasons…
This has seemed for so long like a match made in heaven
yes, great choice for the Rockies, another in a series of bad choices for the Cubs. Would you rather have Murphy or Russell?
Murphy, Russell is bad on and off the baseball field.
Addy slam game 6 World Series . He fielded last out against Dodgers to win pennant . World Series flag will fly forever at Wrigley.
How is it a bad choice for Cubs? Murphy became a free agent, and although initially a very good hitter for the Cubs, he choked big time the last two weeks of the season just like the rest of them. Cubs couldn’t afford that contract either when they already have several middle infield options. Their needs are greater in the bullpen, CF, and RF.
What are you even talking about? Lol
I’m glad Russell is on my team, but the answer to this question is that Murphy was 2/$24 million and Russell will be non-guaranteed at like $3 million. Don’t get me wrong, would love Murphy too…
I agree that this is bad for the Cubs. On a team that badly needs consistent/professional hitters, he definitely is the prototype of that.
Guys will say “but, but defense.” I get it, but with instant replay, and more athletic/quicker players, teams aren’t turning nearly as many double plays, anyway.
He made all the routine plays. For his great hitting ability, that’s more than enough to make up for it, and the Cubs are great everywhere else on defense.
This all came down to money. Theo has made some horrible moves, lately, and they weren’t able to afford him, as a result.
I don’t see how ditching a great hitter like him makes them any better.
DJ lemaheiu is better than Murphy. Maybe Cubs can sign him?
Him at Coors will be nice
Another FA contest miss
Great signing!
His numbers will be off the charts playing 81 games in Colorado
Going from one of the best defensive 2nd basemen to one of the worst.
Murphy will probably get a lot of looks at first though. They should just be turning Desmond into the backup player who can play anywhere and let one of their kids try to run with the second base job.
As usual, spot on JD.
Murphy played first for One inning in playoffs and was brutal. Ever watch scene in moneyball about first base being easy ?
He ain’t playing second.
I finally got one right! =D
Nice!
So stupid that Cashman didn’t even give Murphy a look. Great hitter, left handed power bat, and very good in the field. He would have been perfect for the Yankees, especially with Didi out for awhile.
Chill bro lol. He’s 33. Im glad Cash didnt give him a look
You know I didn’t think of this either but yeah my lord what a fit. Move Torres to short to fill in then move Murphy to first when didi is back then become a free agent then keep Murphy and not have to trade andujar like they would if they squire machado. Good thought by you
Great in the field? Have you ever seen him play?
Well, he actually was a very good fielder… until micro fracture surgery
And if you had a time machine, that might be relevant..
When are people gonna wake up that the Yankees dont need offense?
+Begamin
Exceptions can be made for certain LH talents
This lineup needs more LH bats.
Ellsbury home counting his money, Didi out w/ TJ, Gardy is 4th OF. Which leaves Hicks (switch hitter)
Don’t forget Bird.
Who? Oh guy Begamin wants get 1K-1.5K PA
True fan? Borderline Masochism? Bird’s dad?
You decide
Sorry, Begamin, you’re the only 1 riding Bird.
Most Yankee fans have lost faith
+xabial
You good? Something bugging you?
But about LH hitter:
I couldnt care less if the entire lineup is LH or RH when the team is 2nd in average runs scored per game in a season where their best hitters all had injuries that kept them out for a significant amount of time except for like two (Stanton, Andujar).
About Bird:
You are crazy impatient if you give up on a player with a fair amount of potential if they havent even seen 1000 PA.
Especially in Birds case, where he has less than 700 career PA spread out over multiple injury riddled seasons and spot starts. If he were to have 700 consistent PA that would be a different story. At that point 700 would be a decent sample size.
I never claimed Bird was the second coming of Texiera/Pujols/Votto. However, it is much to early to just give up on the guy with the potential he has shown. He has a good swing and a good eye. I think when he is healthy and has a real spring training to get in not just good but great shape he could very well bat .260 and belt 30HR a year. I just think its much too early to give up on the guy, thats all (i repeated it because i want to make it extremely clear to you, since you dont seem to understand any argument i made about Bird. You act like i think Bird is the best 1B out there, and I have never made such claims.).
The Yankees can afford to roll the dice on Voit and Bird. Especially when you dont even need offense its worth the risk to try out a prospect or two (which is the argument i made for starting Andujar and Torres to open the 2018 season, and the one i will make again for starting Voit or Bird over bringing in some average 1B like Moose)
About Yankees fans losing faith:
Yeah I dont really care. What the masses thinks about something will never factor in anything I think about. I know UV/DV affect you, but not me.
You’re a funny, funny guy. Keep it up you just might have a future playing kids birthday parties.
wow what a really good argument slevin impressive stuff
Everything was good until you said “very good in the field”.
Great in the field compared to who kevin orie?
I agree with all you said except the defense part lol
Power bat? Dudes only hit over 20 home runs in 2 different seasons. He’s a great player don’t get me wrong and coors field will be a huge benefit for him but is this the kinda bat you truly want at first? Everyone thinks he’s so good bc he’s in comparison to other 2b put him up against 1b in the league and he’s much more average offensively.
.326/.375/.542 Is outstanding anywhere on the diamond. Two years 24m total. Excellent move by the Rockies
Why do you insist that he DIDN’T check on Murphy and simply felt that signing him was too many years or too much money?
Why do ppl insist we have an opening at 1B? If you Google you’ll read how much in love Cashma’s analytics team is with Volt and what they feel he can do?
Very good in the field? Take another look, dude.
Agreed. Cashman blew it on this one. Murphy is exactly what the Yanks needed in their lineup. Instead, he’s going to financially cripple the organization for years by signing Machado. That contract will turn out just as bad as the Ellsbury contract.
Very good in what field? Murphy should be a DH in the AL. He has no reason to even own a glove. He doesn’t even know which hand to wear it on.
oh man this guy is about to torch padres’ pitching all year between coors and petco.
He will make a handful of errors and Jose Pirela will reach first base.
Am I the only mad he hit .299 instead of .300 ;P
only one* mad
No but you’re the only one that makes everyone here mad. ;p
Go Yankees
Why are you unbanned?
You’re such a troll, contribute nothing
Don’t mess with this guy bb1600 lest you feel the wrath of his 20+ shill accs
¡redditgold
Who’s the troll and who has 20+ accounts? And I was never banned boy wonder. I actually have a job and contribute to society instead of saying, “mom, I need more hot pockets”
@cubsfan2489
bb1600 = baseball1600
one of bb’s troll accounts
No. Just no. My troll accounts have creative names.
And X I’m honestly done fighting with you. I just wanted my account back and I got it back, I’m not jeopardizing it again.
Not a big deal considering he will be playing 1st
Nice
Even with Descalso signing with the Cubs. They should still look into signing marwin gonzalez or maybe bringing back Lemehieu. Even if either is a 1 year deal.
Russell will probably be released before the offseason is over so I could see them bringing in Lemahieu or Lowrie to take over while Baez shifts to short full time.
Uh the cubs are out of money in case you’ve missed it. They won’t be bringing anyone in.
It’s cute that you still believe that narrative.
It’s a fact son. We’ve heard from multiple sources all of the cubs bad signings have come back to haunt them. Wise up!
How has Lester hurt them? Heyward hasnt even been that bad. He was never an offensive player. The problem is paying that much for defense.
Darvish got hurt. Not a bad signing
Chatwood was terrible.
Duensing was a great signing. Steve Cishek was a great signing.
Brandon morrow was bad but he was also hurt
Picking up the option for kinzler was terrible.
David Ross was a great signing
It’s really been 50/50
Not all have been bad. They are nowhere near out of money. They have plenty of money. They are just spending more wisely.
The Cubs aren’t out of money, per see, but word on the street is ownership doesn’t want to go over the cap. And, since many of Theo’s latest signing (aside from a few) have been bad, this is handcuffing the team. Also, if you go over the cap, you lose international signing money and picks.
Duensing was a horrible resigning. Any value he gave you from when you picked him off the scrap heap he pretty much gave back with his god awful season last yea. Gave him 7M for that.
Theres no salary cap in baseball. What cap are you talking about?
Didnt they give brandon kinzler 10 mil. That’s much worse. Kinzler had one good season if that.
**Luxury tax. My bad.
Umm…no he won’t. Don’t let the outcry fool you. He’s not going to be released.
Not should he…
*nor
Yeah beat your women but if you smoke weed expect a much bigger suspension.
Should’ve just got him that beer.
Lol. Back to reality.
Club a seal to make a deal
UHF
Does anyone know his career numbers at Coors ? If my memory serves correctly he tore it up their. I expect a career year from him this year.
They’re pretty good. Power not really, only 3 total there. .330 average.
3 total homers that is
81 games at Coors – I’ll make the bold prediction that he hits more than a few out at home next year
Who gets the bulk of the time at 2b?? gotta be Hampson right? Rogers probably needs some more seasoning at AAA
Whew, if last year’s rotation numbers were for real, Rox could be pretty good this year. just need a real bullpen and another OF probably.
You kinda gave away all the money on relievers last year and now you’re losing the best one you had. I’d say things still look pretty good for 2019 though
330-3-19 in 120 plat eappearances, 894 ops.
He will be a dream for Eric Hosmer’s at bats
Great signing for Colorado
Sweeeet… I’m still sitting 0-fer in the FA guessing comp… haha
Great fit.
Don’t care how old he is or where he plays half his games, dude flat out rakes.
I would have tried to get DJ back before this. Listen, no doubt DM is a good player … it’s just DJ was strong and younger. I think if you sign him for 5 years, you have pretty much the same player just for 5 years
he will play 1B you know
DJ can play first just fine, I assure you. Better build also
Rockies don’t need DJ though. He’s not worth the bread to them with Rodgers cooking in the minors. They have been making this transition a slow one for BR, but this Murphy deal shows they’re committed to BR being in their lineup everyday in 2020.
They are exactly the same player cept one is young and was a batting champ. This is what fans in denial do… justifying a move that doesn’t make as much sense after losing their own, arguably better player.
Murphy is absolutey the better offensive player. DJ is a .264 hitter away from Coors field. Murphy brings in phenomenal offensive production that will only be amplified playing in Colorado. DJ not worth signing for 5 years when they have minor league talent. Smart move by CO.
Welp, there’s your NL batting champ
Great for my NL only league!!! jk
Damn. Not a fan of this. I’m a Dodgers fan lol. Great pick up for the Rockies, if they can stay healthy they have a good lineup and he makes them even better.
At least the Rox didn’t have to give up the 11th pick in the draft to sign Murphy like they did with Desmond. So they got that going for them.
Goldy moves out, Murphy moves in… smh
Goldschmidt still scares me more than Murphy. Especially since he’s a two way player
I thought he would be a better fit in the american league as a dh but hitting in coors field should makeup for his poor defense.
Good for Murph. Still a big fan, and happy he only faces the Mets six times now instead of 18 or 19 lol
as a Met fan, glad he’s out of NL east..
The losers in this deal are the Toronto Blue Jays. Colorado was probably the best landing spot for Justin Smoak. Once again the team is late to the party and continue to be beaten to the punch.
That said, solid signing for the Rockies. Murphy is a professional, dangerous offensive threat.
This means Ryan McMahon, maybe, plays 2B? May want to check minor league defensive stats as McMahon has struggled defensively too. It’s possible that because he played 1B and 3B it has hindered his growth. Time will tell.
How do you know they were late to the party? There was some rumors previously, but it takes two to tango. They can’t all match up in deals!
Pretty good move. If nothing else, it gets Desmond off 1B. Nobody ever quite understood that reasoning, and Desmond’s a better player than his numbers have shown recently; I’d predict a decent bounce back.
Hampson’s going to contribute with the glove, if nothing else, and they’ll be something else. Offensively not DJ, but he won’t embarrass himself with the bat.
Rox are doing OK so far…….
Murphy just skyrocketed to the top of my fantasy baseball targets.
He’s going to destroy giant pitching all year.
Congrats Murph. As a life long Met fan you caused me many nights of aggravation and consternation. But from Justin turner to Nolan Ryan you really came into your own after leaving New York. Best of luck, I can honestly say, if this is possible , that at 12mm per I think you underpaid. As you were with Nats. The good news is you will only be playing the Mets 6 times this year. Best to you, Merry Christmas.
He’s the only reason the Mets went to the World Series in 2015
No, I think you’re thinking of Yoenis Cespedes.
He was a piece. He also cost them game 5 on Halloween night, so…..
I didn’t even know he was a free agent.
He signed the contract, did exactly what anyone could have expected and more during the duration of the contract, and entered free agency again with about the same general value as last time. That doesn’t happen that often…
Now the Rockies need someone to play 2B.
I’m guessing the answer is no but I haven’t watched the Rox…Desmond used to be a SS; is there any chance he could handle 2nd?
Stick a fork in Murph — he’s done. He’ll be injured half the year and serve as one huge tease for fantasy baseball managers.
He burned me last year while I played the waiting game for him to return, but I won’t make that mistake again.
As a Mets fan…i was hoping to bring Murph back as an insurance policy just in case Alonso isn’t ready for the full time 1B gig. If there is one thing Murph can still do…and that’s hit. Colorado will only amplify that skill. Play him at 2b and 1b and he will justify the contract. Kinda thought he’d be a good fit for the Yankees as well. But it’s off to Denver for Murphy.
His season should look something like this:
.310 19hr 86rbi 4sb .847ops. Yes..Denver pads his stats…but Murph will hit anywhere. I wish him nothing but the best.
Murph single-handedly hit the Mets into the World Series and in the offseason, the Mets let him walk. He took that personally. He hates the Mets. Why would he ever go back to that awful place? The Mets are terrible!
Thanks Chipper.
Hope your enjoying your retirement.
Murphy could always hit, he lifted his game toward the end of 2015 but Yoenis Cespedes is the reason the Mets went to World Series in 2015.
I like how you didn’t dispute these truths:
“the Mets let him walk. He took that personally. He hates the Mets. Why would he ever go back to that awful place? The Mets are terrible!”
Murphy’s bat will pop in Colorado! But the same can’t be said for his defense.
Go Murph! Will miss watching you rake — always worth the price of admission. Entire AL whiffed.
He’s gonna rake at Coors.
His defense took a turn for the worse? That’s funny. It was never there to begin with.
Well, he was a converted second baseman. I think he broke into the majors in the outfield. Any way, maybe he’ll adjust to first base better.
He came up as an outfielder because they had no other place to play him. He is brutal in the field, I can remember more than once him charging the plate on a bunt when he was playing second leaving no one to cover first. Or second. He can hit, can’t deny that but his BB IQ is limited.
Rockies just made the best free agent signing of the offseason. Murphy is a steal at that price. He’s going to take at Coors Field.
Guy might give .400 a run at Coors. He’ll be finding gaps all year long.
If healthy and lock in I wouldn’t question it.
Wow, the rockies actually know how to make a good signing.
Hey my second correct prediction.
Murphy will hit .350 with 30+ home runs playing half his games at Coors. Extra away games in hitter haven Arizona and against the Padre’s weak pitching won’t hurt, either. Good signing by the Rox. And playing 1B will hide a lot of his defensive shortcomings. Saw him play many times in Philly. when he was a Met and a Nat. Always liked the guy. Gives you a good at bat 90% of the time and doesn’t strike out nearly as much as most others. That’s one heck of an infield the Rox have no matter who ends up playing 2B for them.