6
2011
Murphy Staying Put, Why The Urgency For A High-End Closer?
An article by 
A New York Mets official squashed any speculation that the Mets would trade infielder Daniel Murphy according to ESPNNewYork.com.
“Some players are more valuable to us than other clubs,” the team official said.
Rubin says this translates to Murphy being more valuable to the team than what the Mets could command in a trade. I agree with him.
As you can see in the following chart, Murphy has been very productive at the plate and with the Mets having little money and needing to replace the losses of Beltran and Reyes from the lineup, keeping Murphy isn’t such a bad idea.
Manager Terry Collins said yesterday that Murphy will play second base for the majority of the season with Justin Turner getting some time. He also added that Murphy likely will find himself batting leadoff on some occasions.
In other Mets news, Rubin also reports that the Mets have not ruled out signing a high-end closer to a one-year deal, but feels the Mets are more likely to sign a free agent like Frank Francisco or Jon Rauch, both formerly with the Blue Jays.
Rauch went 5-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 53 games last season while Francisco went 1-4 with a 3.55 ERA with 17 saves in 54 games.
I mentioned the following on Twitter earlier today:
It really doesn’t make any sense… A high end closer when you only have $10-15 million to spend on a team that could possible be looking at a 90+ loss season? Why?
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Joe D, not only that, but it’d be stupid and a waste of time for us to get a top notch closer when we will lose way more games than win them, at this point, todd coffee sounds about right…
But trading KRod who could have made as much $ as Jose Reyes under the same circumstances was a bad move?
Well. those $17.5 went into the wilpons pockets… so, in terms of fan base… yes it was.. the team imploded after krod was traded, and for what?? so the money saved can be pocketed?? keep trying to defend sandy and his AWFUL tenure as a mets GM, you keep looking as foolish as donal…
‘Mets have not ruled out signing a high-end closer to a one-year deal,’
This makes no sense. What ‘high-end closer’ is going to want to sign a one year deal? You think KRod will be down for that?
IDK guys but seems to me you’ve got to take some of these rumors with a grain of salt.
On the Murphy front, I had to chuckle at Collins statement. While it make sense, Alderson wouldn’t commit to Murph playing 2nd next year…yet. Kind of tells me if the right deal came along, Murph would be traded.
I agree with Joe D. It doesn’t make any sense for Sandy to trade Murph for a spare part, B prospect or support reliever. Most likely Murph is going to start at 2B next season with Turner being penciled-in for more of a bench role. If Sandy trades Murph, he would then have to go out and acquire some cheap 1 year 2B-? I also agree with Joel Sherman- If I was Sandy, I would be proactive and look to trade Wright right now ( but if some sort of match was found, wait awhile to make that trade until reyes leaving blows over a bit and some more season and partial ticket plans are sold). Do the Mets hold onto Wright now and risk him continuing to trend the wrong way- lowering BA, power nos.- HR & RBI, climbing SO and declining defense? Or do they trade him now when in reality they can get more for him right now compared to next July? Also, keep in mind Wright’s trade value to an acquiring team would be lower next July because with the new CBA, there is no longer compensation picks for players not on a particular team the whole year. Of course, if Sandy trades Wright, Murph starts at 3B which is his best defensive position.
Almost every “tradeable” piece the Mets have outside of prospects has something to prove before the Mets can get any real value for them. So IF they were looking to deal…
Johan – Prove he’s healthy and Johan again.
Wright – Fences moved in, prove he didn’t lose his swing
Murphy – 2 severe knee injuries in 2 years. Prove he can come back where he left off. 2009 Murph doesn’t get you anything, only 2011 Murph does.
Bay – Be Boston/Pittsburgh-Jason Bay, and even then who knows.
You might add to your list having Duda in RF every day. He’s got a lot to prove defensively. Sometimes he’s frozen on line drives hit his way and sometimes he’s slow to get to a ball. He can hit a ball 600 feet when he nails it but that’s not going to help him play the outfield. He needs a lot of work.
Why not Joe? After all, they don’t intend to “PUNT” on 2012! Never mind it’s 4th and 35 on their own 10 yard line! LOL
Don’t love sports metaphors used on the WRONG sport!? LOL (Note to Sandy: the Mets play BASEBALL in the NL East, not in the NFC!)
Terry Collins said today on MLB radio that the Mets are looking to acquire 2 or 3 set-up men rather than an impact closer.
Mets in on buerhle…
http://mlb.mlblogs.com/
Alex 68- that’s crazy- Buehrle and something completely ou of LF. I don’t understand why Sandy is talking to all these different FA when in reality Sandy has app 12MM to spend on new players to fill 6 spots. Unless Sandy can move more $$$ in a trade.
90+ losses??? because we lost Reyes?? sorry, Jose Reyes is a great, versitile ballplayer, but he’s not jesus.
get me players that can go out and play hard everyday. isn’t anyone else tired of starting sentences regarding the Mets with “if they stay healthy…”
Acc. to Joel Sherman on twitter, he’s getting a strong feeling that the Mets are closing in on a late reliever type but not Francisco Cordero.
I’m guessing Chad Qualls- rather have him than Rauch.
Hope so. I wanted Qualls last season.
Well, so much for buerhle rumors, according to sandy the genius alderson:
Sandy Alderson said no way on Mark Buehrle/C.J. Wilson level starting pitcher signing with #Mets
from rubin
Murphy’s trading value could only go up during the season, IF he is healthy by the time the trading deadline comes. Would make no sense in trading him now.
Closer by committee will probably be the way for the 2012 Mets.
If we have 20-25 million to spend next year, lets just give it all to Pujols.
Lets just sign him to another “Bonilla” type deal. We’ll give you 1 mil a year for the next 50 years.
Martino hears a deal with a reliever can happen tonite. I’m guessing either Francisco or Qualls.
putting Murphy at 2B is a horrible, horrible, mistake. It’s just unbelievable that I’m reading this. This is major league baseball and this guy has braces on his knees and they are going to put him at 2B? It’s unbelievable. This is a wacky kind of baseball that would NEVER exist back in the day when decisions were based on baseball intelligence and not STUPID sabermetric, moneyball principles.
My principles are based on wanting to win baseball games by putting the right people where they belong and this is just an incredibly dumb, stupid, amateur move and I doubt Collins is behind this – he’s just being the good soldier. Let’s just put Jason Bay at 2B and sign an outfielder than, let’s just put anybody anywhere. Incredible and I have NO DOUBT in my mind that his move is going to come back and haunt this team. This team is getting worse by losing their stars (whatever the circumstances) and now they’re putting a guy that PROVED he cannot play that position right back out there.
He cost this team more games with his defense/inability to think/and baserunning than he won with the bat and the same thing is going to happen again.
Incredible that a decision like this is being made at such level. This is a county semi-pro league decision, not a major league decision
ok soooo, you would rather Murph sit on the bench and waste trade value that he could be building up being in the lineup everyday, in a year where you say that they aren’t going to contend for anything anyway?
now that is smart managing.
everyday you say things that prove that you are not a smart person. and it is great entertainment. I think it’s why I keep coming back here.
Did I say have him sit? Go back into hibernation and play fantasy baseball
ok, so still waiting to see what you’d do with him. is your answer trade David Wright to open up 3B? cool, so you would either…
a) sell low on your franchise player in his prime years.
b) have a valuable trade chip sit on the bench.
man I’m so happy smart people are in charge right now.
So, what is your solution?
and before you say it “I’m not the GM” is just another hollow cliche you think excuses you from backing up your big talk.
They have a guy who they want hitting every day, but the 2 positions he’s best at are occupied. they also have a position that only one guy on the major league roster can play every day and he is at short stop right now.
Is it ideal? No. It is simply making the best with what is there.
It could change, of course, but right now, it is the best option.
ideal outcome is that Havens gets all buffed up over the off season, has a big spring, and just wins the job (and he is the guy in the system with a chance to become a LT fixture there, so get the future going!).
That way you get a guy with a good bat, that is also a legit MI.
i agree there,
If the Mets could catch a break and Havens and/or Valdespin all of sudden show they’re ready in ST only THEN you can maybe see some progress up the middle but the issue of defense comes up again.
I’ve never seen either one play but I hear neither one of them is that good w/the glove and that’s a problem.
As for the other misanthrope I have laid out plenty of suggestions about what to do at 2B w/one of them moving Wright for pitching, etc. But then again I would be doing EVERYTHING different than this Front Office starting with last year
The thing is, it has been pointed out how trading Wright at this point is a bad idea and you keep ignoring it
And every time you actually have the guts to say what you would do as a GM, you punctuate why you are an anonymous fanboy on a website and not an actual baseball executive.
I’d rather Havens in Buffalo to start the season. He has to prove that he is healthy and that he can progress. If he can do that (or Valdespin gets his head together), then we look at promoting around the All Star Break and try to make some moves on the big club.
he already proved he can produce (and in 2010 I am 100% sure he would have been called up when Castillo went down, if not for horrible timing on the rib issue flaring up).
ST can supply the healthy and ready to contribute part.
If they are really building to the future, and think Tejada is part of the LT, then might as well let them develop together.
um, i’m sorry you’ll have to excuse me. what has reese havens done to prove that he can produce at the major league level?
well, all a prospect can do is show in the minors they deserve a chance. By your logic, no player could ever make the majors!
no, I mean when has he done anything anywhere. he hasn’t played anything close to a full year at any level yet.
Building on an injury prone player!!! How stupid. We can’t have any injury risks now can we?
Acc. to Rubin, the Mets resolved today not to pursue a veteran RH FA C to team with Thole. It’s going be Thole & Nickeas. $$$ needed for bullpen.
that sounds logical, but at this point, the vet guys available aren’t going to cost enough extra to make it worthwhile.
An alternative is spend a little more on a catcher, and roll with a kid in the pen to get tot he same place $$ wise (if the more expensive pen arm is going to end up like DJ!)
Unbelievable. One of the most important pieces to creating a successful baseball team is solid catching/handling of pitching. Incredible.
I swear to God that this decision and the Murphy decision are directly tied to this front office sabermetric beliefs. It’s mind boggling to say the least and NO WAY am i going to spend money to support a belief system i do not believe in and think that is going to ruin this team even more.
I swear to God I wish I was a millionaire I’d go involved so quickly and throw this front office out onto the street right on their asses.
It’s one thing to be broke and we all know that but to be constantly making TERRIBLE decisions with whatever money you have makes it even worse. And this is what happened last offseason.
And don’t anybody tell me that they aren’t making these decisions based on their sabermetric beliefs. My God…Henry Blano was around 1.5 million or LESS and would have been MORE Than worth the money to the Mets. He would have added respect and act as a mentor to one of the most important positions a ballclub can have. Why did they not sign him? His OBP?????? His OPS?? His WAR?
Un-Friggin-Believable
lol.
Dream on!
Nothing like having a healthy ego, huh?
This decision boils down strictly to $$$. Nickeas will cost the Mets app. 430 K next season while Shoppach, Pudge or Variteck would cost the Mets at least 2MM.
Sach, it’s very clear everything being done this offseason is due to money and I’m not sure money wasn’t the only reason last season’s moves were made, too.
Wake us up when a decision is ever made to try to win a ballgame. That would be really creative and unheard of in baseball!!!!!!!
Mets will win plenty of ball games. At least 70.
Sach,
It goes back to spending money to make money. 1.25 million on Blanco is a WISE investment and he can help tighten up the pitching staff and the pitchers loved pitching to him last time he was here and THAT can create more wins = more money. You can start small and end up with bigger results.
Not spending 1.25 million on Blanco is WORSE than saving the 800,000 or so difference between him and Nickeas. That’s smart baseball and can result in more wins…and besides he’s a decent bat at the bottom of the order and can drive in runs.
Gotta disagree with you big time there Sach because not spending the money right is gonna be WORSE for this team than not spending it at all.
Acc. to Enrique Rojas, problem child Hanley has informed the Marlins he is not on board in switching positions to 3B and would rather be traded than move from SS. Which is why the Marlins have revved up their efforts for Albert. IMO, if the Marlins sign Albert, both Hanley and Sanchez will be traded.
Bayonne, I’m not disagreeing with you in regards to Blanco and Nickeas. I would rather have Blanco at 1.5MM too. However, Blanco is now off the board and I’m not so sure about Shoppach over Nickeas. Neither can hit and at least Nickeas is familiar with most of the Met pitchers for next season and some Met pitchers even prefer Nickeas over Thole.
My point is they either waited or chose to pass on Blanco because of their sabermetric beliefs and we won’t be able to prove either case but i have a STRONG feeling they passed on Blanco because of their reliance on numbers crunching and this DIRECTLY making this team WORSE.
I would take any other GM in the Mets history over these guys. They can ALL make baseball decisions with a low budget and i’m sorry but that alleged skill is not exclusive to Sandy Alderson. ANY GM with smart baseball sense should be able to do that
my anger/passion is not directed at you Sach, i’m ENRAGED at this front office because:
1) i understand the team is broke so it’s not that
2) IMO we are seeing EVIDENCE of their decision making based on sabermetrics and so far the returns are astonishingly BAD, VERY BAD.
3) I swear if these guys are foregoing normal baseball decisions which can HELP this team for decisions based on their numbers crunching sabermetric beliefs than that should tell anyone who’s on the fence that it’s simply bad business. I think we may very well be seeing that played out. Aside from the budget how else can you explain a 2nd straight off season (so far) of extremely TERRIBLE baseball decisions. Why? Because they’re not baseball decisions – they are sabermetric decisions
I just don’t see them making moves based on any sabermetric principle like you seem to.
for guys not signed, you never can say why (if the player was not interested, money issues, whatever.) So all you can really look at for sure is who they do get, and from that I just don’t see sabers. Unless you are putting it all on taking a rule 5 shot on Emaus?
Acc. to Martino, the Marlins are pushing for a resolution tonite with Albert & Lozano regarding their 10 year app. 220MM offer to him. Lozano asked the Cards to at least match today.
Also acc. to Martino, a source close to that situation said to be on “red alert” for an Albert Pujols deal going down tonite.
Funny how it seems like any player the Mets want to sign ‘makes no sense’. The bullpen is easily the weakest part of the team imo. Id totally prefer signing 3 guys and closer by committee that was tweeted earlier but, we need a closer or some bullpen help bad!! Given the payroll situation that was FINALLy admitted after losing Reyes, and decisions are being made based on this,,and as much as im pissed at Alderson for all his recent hot air, i dont think we;re in bad hands at all in getting the most out of the money the Wilpons are going to let him spend. I think right now nothing is going right for him, free agenst are siging for alot of money so there’s probably some ‘panic’ going on but i think in the end Alderson is better then most at managing this type situation
Other items dicussed here – Id love Murph at 2b majority of time, i can deal with his defense my only concern is will his knee get injured turning another double play?? If its a real risk(im not a doctor)then id rather super-sub him. Plus more interleague will mean more DH ab’s..and yea if Havens emerges maybe things change..
I think the Mets would admit they botched the catcher situation. But i thin k Nickeas handle pirtcher well(Darling thought so..)and will be ok at bat, im more concerned about who is going to be the 3rd sting catcher if one of them goes down!!
Lastly..Wright going to have a monster year DO NOT trade him…let me get thru day one post-Reyes..
As good a season Murphy had last year and as good as a clutch hitter he is he hurt this team last year more with his fielding, baserunning, & mental gaffs than helped them with his bat. That’s what I saw.
Here’s what I would do because I believe Murphy will kill this team AND himself at 2B.
Since right now we have no other option i would go with Turner at 2B, not great but overall a more stabilizing decision at 2B than Murphy. We still have time to cuz maybe Havens or Valdespin will be ready by ST. What would I do w/Murphy since we can’t put him at 3B? I don’t know yet I’ll think about it later during the meetings cuz let’s see if any moves are made that a Murphy move can be piggy backed on. But at the moment my middle infield is Tejada & either Turner or one of the 2 kids.
murphy can just be a very good bat off the bench, and spot starter at multiple positions. A jack of all trades type, though obviously more offensively oriented.
that’s very fair.
Maybe we can use Murphy to get a proven shortstop. This is not a time to gamble with a kid at SS who has a long swing and no power. It’s the worst of all worlds. But in any case I trust our front office more than any fan.
Don’t be a JACKASS and try and bait. EVERYBODY on earth knows who’s playing SS for Mets next year. Everybody knows you HATE this kid no matter what – everybody KNOWS It.
The kid is ALREADY a better hitter than any SS the Mets have had during their previous pennant runs outside of 2006 and could be better defensively than Harrelson and (definitely Santana)
But go ahead and KEEP making an imbecile of yourself. I’ll just keep giving opinions based on what i think is BEST for the team without prejudice to any particular favorites of mine…which is something you cannot do and frankly too old to learn.
easier to hide a black hole at SS when you have the best hitting catcher of all time (arguably) to make up for it.
Just because they did manage to win with a no O SS doesn’t mean it is the way to go, especially if the rest of the line up isn’t stacked. They still need some level of viable offense out of the position.
I’m not saying it’s the way to go….sigh…oh my god.
It ALWAYS depends on the type of team you have…i hate repeating myself all the time as I’ve explained that a billion times.
As a matter of fact Reyes was the more appropriate SS for this type of team. I said before that Tejada as SS is happening TOO early….i said the before too. But Reyes is gone now so it is what it is.
I was saying that a team can win with that type of SS provided that the rest of the team is built differently LIKE the Mets team’s i explained before. That’s what I meant
You seem to be suggesting that the Mets will be OK with Ruben if they can optimize ALL the other defensive and offensive positions. Are you really into optimizing the team? Please respond civilly, something that is often hard for you to do.
depends on what you think of Tejada. Is he the future SS, just maybe needs another year of development in AAA? Then sign a FA temp guy. If you don’t think anyone in the system is a viable ML starter in the next 3 years say, then go looking for one.
and of course, how aggressive you want to be this season. If you are treating it as largely a building year, then you can give tejada/havens say a shot. Then, if Tejada can’t hack it, go looking.
Tough call, but it really does start with what they think about Tejada as a starter. But, if nothing else, he is probably already better than guys like jack Wilson.
Any and Bayonne, I would prefer that with Murph- just start some games at 2B, back-up 1B and 3B and maybe even get some spot starts in LF for Bay vs. a tough RHSP ( if Murph got some work and reps in LF in ST with Tom Goodwin.) If I’m Sandy, Terry, Teufel and Kevin Morgan, I have to take a realistic look in ST at both Valdespin & Havens at least defensively at 2B for future purposes.
yeah, that is what I was going to with Murphy. And I agree that ST needs to be an audition for 2B.
Oh Boy- acc. to Rubin, the Mets are making progress with Jon Rauch and had some good talks today. I would prefer Qualls or Coffey to him. Don’t care for Rauch very much.
Rauch is terrible!
I’m starting to feel nauseous. Acc. to Martino on twitter, Martino just recently asked a Mets exec if they were close to a deal with Rauch. The response- You’re on the right track. Rauch really isn’t an upgrade over Acosta for the 8th inn. set-up role and in my mind is a waste of $$$.
Anybody on here like Jon Rauch and can explain to me the Mets rationale for signing him?
Sach, I can live with Rauch. He’s consistently kept his FIP below 4.00 and the only two season his ERA was above 4.00 was when he had a little trouble with the longball, something that should be neutralized in Citi Field. He’s got a good K/BB rate and an acceptable WHIP. He probably came cheap, and he’s not bad. He’s not the answer, but he’s an upgrade.
there you go Sach – because of silly FIP/sabermetric beliefs. According to Xtreemicon this is a good signing because the numbers he likes say so.
He also says that Taylor Bucholz was on his way to a better season than KROD – because of sabermetric numbers crunching.
He also would sign Chris Young again – without knowing if the guy’s career is over or not. Why? Sabermetric beliefs
So far sabermetric beliefs have shown to be a DISASTER for the Mets.
How about some decisions based on creating a good baseball team?
Acc. to Jim Duquette. the Mets have signed Jon Rauch to a 1 year deal.
This guy allowed 11HR last year in just 52IP. Great choice for late inning relief!
Murphy is our new franchise, non-eyewash, player. A veritable bargain at this freebie price and his skills all drop down to the bottom line as value. This team sucks so much that crap like Dan Murphy is indispensable,because as much as he sucks, he is surrounded by even worse players. Learn to love him Mets fans even as he sucks.
If Murph found an everyday position somewhere I think leading off is a big mistake and misuse of his offensive skills.
One good thing about Murph’s hitting is he’s shown to be able to produce with runners on base and do it in big spots with regularity. I absolutely would not lead him off