Infielder Daniel Murphy reportedly agreed Thursday to a three-year deal with the Washington Nationals, per Jim Bowden of ESPN. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the news.
Rosenthal added the deal is for three years and worth $37.5 million.
One of the most productive left-handed hitters in last season's New York Mets lineup, Murphy proved over seven years in the Big Apple that he is a great hitter. He held a .280 batting average in six of his first seven seasons and hit a career-high 14 long balls last year.
However, Murphy has been a liability in the field, committing 13 or more errors in each of the past four years. But his bat has been too valuable to keep out of the lineup.
And even while he approached free agency, Murphy adored the franchise that gave him his start, as he told the New York Post's Steve Serby: "I know that this organization has done more for me than I think any other organization in baseball would have done, and I love 'em for it."
However, Murphy will now play for New York's National League East rival.
Murphy could fit in the second spot of the Nationals lineup. A contact hitter who finds his way on base, he can help set the table for the likes of Bryce Harper in the nation's capital.
In October, Murphy broke a drought in which he'd played 903 games without making the postseason, and he turned plenty of heads in the playoffs. He drilled seven home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs and was a major reason why the Mets reached the World Series.
If he can provide the same level of production in Washington, Nationals fans will be thrilled with their new second baseman.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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