Playoff sensation Daniel Murphy was bound to attract plenty of interest on the free-agent market following his October heroics, which propelled the New York Mets to the National League pennant.
At least one team is already expressing its desire to sign the seven-year veteran.
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Rockies Discussing Murphy at 1B
Saturday, Nov. 7
The Colorado Rockies have internally discussed signing Murphy but are interested in shifting him from second base to first, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Murphy has played 183 games at first.
The Rockies entered last season with reigning NL batting champ Justin Morneau as their first baseman but declined his $9 million option last month after the 34-year-old struggled to stay healthy.
The Rockies infield already consists of 2015 breakout bat DJ LeMahieu at second and established star Nolan Arenado at third, leaving only first as a realistic option for Murphy.
Colorado would retain its fourth overall pick in the 2016 first-year player draft but would lose the Comp Round A pick should it sign Murphy, according to Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors.
As good as he was in October—he hit .421 with seven home runs and 11 RBI in the NL playoffs—he doesn’t necessarily boast a power bat the Rockies could exploit in the majors' most hitter-friendly park.
Dan Szymborski of ESPN noted the Rockies may want to rethink their approach:
Murphy received a $15.8 million qualifying offer—nearly double his 2015 salary, per Spotrac—from the Mets on Friday, despite a report from Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News during the playoffs that the team had no plans to bring him back.
But as David Waldstein of the New York Times notes, the Mets altered their plans for good reason: "Murphy is not worth that kind of money, but for the Mets, it was a gamble worth taking. If Murphy rejects the offer and signs elsewhere, the Mets will receive a draft pick as compensation. Teams covet draft picks as the most cost-effective way to build a roster."
Murphy, 30, has one week to decide on the offer, which is above what he’s worth. However, he could rake in roughly $14 million per year and get a lengthier deal on the open market, per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors.
The Mets would miss his bat at an otherwise weak offensive position—particularly given power-hitting Yoenis Cespedes' possible departure in free agency. Murphy will have to decide what his priority is: stay in Queens and run at the title again or dash for the cash in Colorado—home of the NL West cellar-dwellars three of the last four years.
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