Daniel Murphy has been a good, productive player for the Mets over the last seven-plus seasons, but the 30-year-old infielder wasn’t near the top of many free agent watch lists as October began. That has changed.
Murphy smashed three home runs in the NLDS, four home runs in the NLCS, and he’ll carry a record six-game postseason home run streak into Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night in Kansas City.
The buzz is real, as Nick Cafardo discovered when piecing together his Sunday column for the Boston Globe in which he polled scouts, managers, and general managers on the upcoming class of free agents. Here’s what one American League general manager had to say about Murphy …
“Obviously, he’s not going to be as hot as he’s been in the postseason, but he plays positions where his power plays well. There are teams like the Dodgers and Yankees who need a second baseman. Others, like the Angels, need a third baseman, where he also plays. He’s going to be sought-after and get a five-year deal at around $75 million. Maybe more.”
Cafardo also lists the Orioles, Angels, Astros, Dodgers, Padres, and Tigers as possible suitors for Murphy. It’s sounding like a Hanley Ramirez (four years, $88 million) or Pablo Sandoval (five years, $95 million) contract could be coming.
