Sandy Alderson would not confirm whether he plans to extend a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer to free agent Daniel Murphy by Friday’s deadline.
However, in the event Murphy does not return in 2016, Alderson said 21-year-old infield prospect Dilson Herrera would be a viable alternative to start at second base.
Herrera was acquired with reliever Vic Black in late 2013 from the Pirates in a trade for Marlon Byrd and John Buck. He hit .211 with 3 HR and six RBI in 90 at-bats for the Mets this season.
Murphy earned $8 million this past season, which was his final year of salary arbitration. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman recently talked to league sources who believe a team will eventually offer Murphy a four-year, $52 million deal (Oct. 19, 2015).
The Mets would get a compensatory draft pick if they make Murphy a qualifying offer and he signs with another team.
Matthew Cerrone
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | About Me
The Mets, as an organization, are clearly excited about Herrera’s potential. MLB scouts that have seen him really like him. Personally, the jury is still out for me. I see the flash, I see the skills, but I have yet to see him put it all together. This is not to say he can’t do it, it’s just I haven’t seen it, and so it makes letting go of Murphy and handing the job to a rookie very difficult.
That said, Murphy is equal parts asset and liability, all while ESPN.com’s Buster Olney recently says team scouts and executives see Herrera as a future All-Star second baseman. Similarly, Herrera was listed as the fourth-best second base prospect in all of baseball, according to a recent list from MLB.com. And, his manager at Triple-A, Wally Backman, added that Herrera lights up everyone on the infield with his energetic his style of play. Of course, Murphy is a career .288 hitter, who is finding more power, and has shown he can hit and handle New York, a pennant race and a leadership position. It’s a tough call…
My hunch is the Mets will make him a qualifying offer, let him go to some other team for four years, wish him well, take the draft pick and go with Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada and Herrera on the middle infield during 2016. I think Murphy would be great as a super utility guy, getting 500 or so bats playing first base, third and second, and maybe even some corner outfield if needed. But, I don’t think Alderson will want to tie up future money in that type of position. Instead, I bet he’d be more likely to give less to, say, Ben Zobrist, who could do the same thing at less commitment with a different pedigree and versatility.
Comment
from Metsblog http://ift.tt/1SrFrq1
No comments:
Post a Comment