Report: Mets Tried to Trade Daniel Murphy
A report on Wednesday claims the Mets tried to trade Daniel Murphy over the winter but no team would meet the Mets sky-high asking price.
Why did the Mets apparently try to trade their second best hitter? Because he is a crummy fielder? Or maybe because at more than $5 million, he was getting too expensive? No, because he was not adhering to the Mets hitting theory that on-base percentage is the most important thing ever. You know, the same theory that has worked so well with Lucas Duda.
Andy Martino writes in the Daily News:
The team tried to trade its second baseman in December, motivated in large measure by the belief that he did not buy into their offensive philosophy, which stresses on-base percentage. The front office shot high, asking for players like Baltimore pitching prospect Dylan Bundy, and refused to accept less.
That is why Murphy remains a Met, for now. But the perception persists that his .319 OBP last year stands as evidence that he isn’t totally on board.
Daniel Murphy denies this, saying he is trying but admits, “It’s really hard to do. It’s hard. It is hard.”
Murphy explains that the philosophy is not to just sit back and take a walk; it is to wait for a perfect pitch that a hitter can drive.
“They want you to be able to get on base, and when you do get base hits, they want them to be doubles,” Murphy said.
That’s all well and good, but Murphy is a guy who can take a pitch slightly off the plate and get a single. That should be good enough, but apparently not for Sandy Alderson and his brilliant underlings.
This is another example of forcing a player to do something with which he is not totally comfortable. Daniel Murphy has proven that he can hit; just leave him alone. Why does everyone have to play the same way?
Alderson was right; he should have just traded Murphy if he insisted that Murphy play Alderson’s way. Trying for Dylan Bundy is fine, but there was no way the Orioles were going to part with the number two ranked prospect in all of baseball for Daniel Murphy. Alderson should have lowered his demands instead of trying to change Murphy.
So now we will likely see an unsteady Murphy — unable to change his ways, but forced to try to the point that he will not be able to hit the way he usually does. Sandy Alderson is a hell of a general manager.
All of this is conjecture based upon the report of one NY Daily News reporter who needs to file some sort of story during a rather boring uneventful spring training season????? That is how these rag reporters in NYC make their money.
Sorry. I don’t buy it. Maybe they did try and trade Murphy and maybe they didn’t. In a way it makes sense – sell high. Murphy just had a career year. Mets need to win on pitching and defense. I don’t think they will get as much back for him later as they might right now.
Please stop bashing Alderson. I happen to think he is doing a good job. The lower levels are stocked with good young pitching and the results will show at the major league level soon. Please show some other evidence of them trying to change Murphy? Last I looked Terry Collins was the manager and Daniel Murphy’s name was penciled into the lineup for 158 games last year – close to 700 PAs.
In addition, whenever Murphy’s name is mentioned it is usually regarding what a “team” player he is. If Wright and granderson are healthy for a full season this year, Murphy will feast on fastballs. His OBP might actually shrink. Murph’s OBS, OBS+ and BABIP numbers will tell the story this year.
I’m a batting average guy, myself, and Murphy hits just fine.
So, based on this “philosophy”, we banish a guy like Murph and elevate a stiff like Duda…
JJ: I don’t necessarily disagree with you about trading Murphy. I have written several times that as much as I like him, if he could bring a key piece to fill one of the many holes on the team, I would have no problem dealing him. Eric Young could slide right into second and Murphy would not be terribly missed. Plus, he is getting a bit expensive for what he brings.
I just have an issue with this reason for trading him (if indeed it is true). Murphy is who he is; to try to change his approach at the plate at this juncture in his career is pointless.
As far as my Alderson bashing, I’m sorry, I will continue to do that when I feel it is appropriate. We obviously have different opinions about the job he is doing, and that’s okay. I’m not trying to convince anybody.
Hmm…is JJ=Jay Horowitz? I always wondered what the hell that guy does anyway.
Hi Mark,
My point was that you are bashing Alderson based upon one article written by a writer who needs to stir up a controversy where there is none.
Hey Mets Fan Forever, JJ stands for Vern Horshite. I grow vegatables out in the bullpen with my good friend Joe Pignatano. Horowitz provides the “fertilizer”.