By Steven Inman
After arriving in New York in 2008, Daniel Murphy is likely heading into his final month in Queens.
Daniel Murphy has been dealing with a strained calf and it hasn’t improved at all with rest. As a result the Mets placed their lone All-Star representative on the disabled list. Anytime a player gets put on the DL at this time of the year with rosters about to expand in a few days, it means the player isn’t expected back anytime soon.
In a corresponding roster move the Mets called up top infield prospect Dilson Herrera. Herrera, 20, is the 18th youngest player to debut with the Mets ever. Herrera is ranked as the 8th best prospect by MLB.com. A strong minor league season probably gets Herrera a little higher up on this list next year. Keep in mind the Mets only view Herrera as a second basemen.
It was certainly a surprise that Herrera is being called up straight from Double-A. Herrera had to be added to the 40-man roster this winter anyway but there wasn’t much talk of the second basemen being called up until Murphy was placed on the DL. Herrera hit .340 with ten homers and 48 RBI in 61 games for Double-A Binghamton.
Herrera has been great in the minor leagues since coming over in a trade exactly a year ago from the Pirates with Vic Black for Marlon Byrd and John Buck. (Two rental players) This trade could go down as the most underrated trade Sandy Alderson has made as General Manager of the Mets.
BrokeMets has been reporting that the Mets are expected to trade Daniel Murphy this winter and you will now get a sneak peak at his replacement. Sandy Alderson and the rest of the front office have never been big Murphy fans. Remember Murphy was drafted by former GM Omar Minaya. Minaya, who has been working in the Padres front office the past few seasons and has been trying to acquire Murphy from the Mets for the past couple of years.
The Mets have no interest in paying Daniel Murphy the ten million or so it would take on a four year deal to lock up their second basemen so it makes sense from a baseball perspective to deal him this winter if he isn’t expected to be around long-term. Despite missing the past few games Murphy continues to lead the National League in hits with 159 and is expected to make around $8.5 million in his final year of arbitration. (For some other team)
The Mets offense has been horrendous this season, by far worse than what was expected. That being said this offense could get a little worse short-term if the Mets remove the NL’s hit leader and replace him with a rookie. A talented rookie, but still a rookie.
The Dilson Herrera ERA starts Friday night.
The Mets Report 