Kallet: Mets Would Be Downright Foolish To Trade Daniel Murphy
By Brad Kallet, WFAN.com
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I've been saying for months that the Mets need to fill just two holes -- shortstop and left field -- to compete for a playoff spot in 2015.
The starting pitching is terrific, the bullpen -- which will get Bobby Parnell back -- is solid and position players Travis d'Arnaud, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson are all either proven commodities or up-and-coming stars.
The Mets filled one of those holes aggressively at the start of the free-agent period last week, signing outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a two-year, $21 million deal.
Next on the club's checklist, per Sandy Alderson, is getting that shortstop.
Whether through free agency or via trade, I believe that Alderson will upgrade the position and the Mets' lineup in 2015 will be vastly improved.
But one thing that Alderson simply cannot do is trade Murphy.
The All-Star second baseman has been the subject of trade rumors for a long time now, though it doesn't appear that any deals have been close. Last week, the Mets' GM said that he's "reluctant" to trade the 29-year-old infielder. However, according to ESPN, if New York is able to acquire a top-tier shortstop then a Murphy trade could soon follow.
It's important to note that Murphy, who is arbitration-eligible, is expected to get a raise and could earn over $8 million next season. The smooth-swinging lefty will also become a free agent after the 2015 campaign and it's unlikely he'll be signed to a contract extension before Opening Day.
But if the Mets are finally ready to win now -- and it appears that they are -- then Murphy's current salary and his status as an impending free agent should be non-factors. Next season is about returning to the playoffs, right? Isn't that what we've been told? Isn't that what manager Terry Collins just said?
The only way it makes sense to trade Murphy if it's in a deal for an elite player. That I would get behind. But Giancarlo Stanton isn't coming to Queens, and it doesn't appear that Troy Tulowitzki is either. And what superstar shortstops can be had? If the Cubs trade Starlin Castro they'll want pitching, not another infielder.
Which brings us to the underlying theme. The Mets should trade from a position of strength, not a position of weakness. There is no viable replacement for Murphy at second base -- we'll get to Wilmer Flores and Dilson Herrera later -- but look at the pitching staff. There is a surplus of pitching on the roster, and that's what Alderson should be looking to trade.
Matt Harvey. Zack Wheeler. Jacob deGrom. Jon Niese. Dillon Gee. Bartolo Colon. Rafael Montero. And don't forget about that Noah Syndergaard guy. Yes, I know that you can't have enough pitching, but that's eight starters! If you're going to make a trade, Sandy, deal one of the expendable pitchers and leave your offensive-minded second baseman alone.
Trade Niese, Gee, Colon or Montero. All four have value, and how much will it really hurt to lose one of them?
Once the Mets upgrade at shortstop, they will have a complete team. No, I'm not saying that they'll win the World Series or even the NL East -- the Nationals still have far too much talent -- but they'll have a club that can unquestionably compete for a wild card berth.
With a competent shortstop, there will be no real holes around the diamond. But if Murphy is traded, the hole will essentially move from shortstop to second base. The acquisition of a shortstop will be nothing more than a wash.
I think some need to be reminded of just how valuable Murphy is to this team. We all know that his defense isn't excellent. He's not Roberto Alomar or Robinson Cano out there. But he's solid enough with the glove, and with a sure-handed shortstop his defensive deficiencies will be less of an issue.
Oh, and about that bat. How many second basemen can you name who handle the stick better than Murphy? There aren't many. The line-drive hitter finished second in the NL in hits in 2013 with 188, and had 172 in 18 fewer games this past season. He's durable, hits plenty of doubles and flashes occasional power. And while Murphy has been known to make some boneheaded plays on the bases, he also has the ability to steal.
Any way you slice it, the lefty is the most consistent hitter on the club. Unless Alderson is blown away by an offer, to trade Murphy would be downright foolish.
As for his potential replacements, there's not much to be excited about. What is this fascination with Flores? He's not much of a defender himself, and I don't want to hear about how he's hit at all levels of the minor leagues. That may be true, but the bottom line is -- and this is of the utmost importance -- he's never proven himself in the majors, and he's had no shortage of opportunities. Maybe Flores will become a solid or even great player one day, but there's nothing to suggest that he could ever fill Murphy's shoes in 2015.
Herrera turned some heads in 18 games after being called up, but the Colombian is only 20. He clearly isn't ready to play every day at this level.
In an age in which pitching is king and runs don't come as easily as they once did, effective hitters are at a premium.
The Mets have the pitching, from top to bottom, and they need as much offense as they can get.
They need to keep Murphy.
Brad Kallet is an editor and columnist for CBSNewYork.com. He has written for TENNIS.com, MLB.com and SMASH Magazine, among others. You can follow him on Twitter @brad_kallet.
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