It’s official… Second baseman Daniel Murphy has declined his one year, $15.8 million qualifying offer from the New York Mets, who will now receive a compensation pick between the first and second rounds in next year’s draft when he signs with a new team.
It was a no-brainer for Murphy, who has a potential multi-year deal waiting for him in free agency worth anywhere between $45-60 million dollars. Although the Mets could still sign Murphy as a free agent, he has most likely played his final game as a New York Met.
Drafted back in 2006 as a 13th-round pick out of Jacksonville University, the last year the Mets were in the playoffs before this current run. He made his MLB debut on August 2nd, 2008. As of August 9, 2008, Murph was the fifth Mets rookie to record 10 hits in his first 20 at-bat’s. It was a sign that he had quite a potent bat, and could find himself some success at the professional level.
Murphy passed Ed Kranepool for second place on the Mets’ all-time doubles list this season, finishing the year with 228 two-baggers and trailing only franchise leader David Wright. It took Kranepool 18 Years and 1,853 games to collect his 225 doubles, and Murphy passed him with No. 226 in just 7 Years and 894 games.
“I’ve been in this organization since 2006. It makes me feel old to say it. I think that’s like nine years, if I count and use my toes right,” Murphy said. It’s a long time But I truly, truly have enjoyed my time in this organization. I feel blessed to have been a Met this long.”
The fan base was split down the middle on whether to bring back Murphy, and clearly he wanted to come back but the Mets never approached him about an extension, preferring instead to let it play out this way.
“I like it here, I’d like to come back. We’ll have to see. I don’t think there are going to be 30 teams offering me a deal. So we’ll have to see. That will probably dwindle it down.”
Murphy had a historic postseason for the Mets and became the first player to homer in six consecutive playoff games, breaking the record of five set by Carlos Beltran of the Houston Astros in 2004. His seven home runs in a single postseason put him in a four-way tie for fourth in baseball history.
However, his World Series play led to some dissent among fans, even though if not for his efforts, the Mets would not have gotten anywhere near the Fall Classic.
The Mets are said to be comfortable going with some combination of Dilson Herrera, Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada in the middle infield next season, but a lot can change between now and Opening Day.
Whatever your feelings are on Daniel Murphy, I think we can all agree that for nine years he was a good soldier as the Mets bounced him around from the outfield to all over the infield and he did it without ever complaining. There were a lot of great Murphy moments to go with the occasional blunder, and all in all he was fun to watch and easy to root for.
Farewell Murph…
