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World Series blunders won’t hurt Daniel Murphy’s free agent earning power

By Michael Natelli

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After having a postseason to remember, Daniel Murphy had a World Series he’d probably like to forget. The Mets second baseman struggled at the plate through the entire series, and made a pair of errors that ultimately played a significant role in a pair of Royals rallies in Games 4 and 5.

Murphy’s potential final games as a Met probably didn’t go how he had hoped, but the poor showing shouldn’t hurt his value on the open market.

Murphy’s rise to stardom in the postseason brought his name to the forefront of offseason speculation, with many suddenly pegging him as a potential prime target for clubs in need of help at first or second base. But Murphy was already considered one of the better second basemen in baseball before the playoffs. His postseason tear just let the secret out.

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If Murphy elects to turn down New York’s qualifying offer (or if they decide not to extend one), he will enter the market in prime position to land a healthy payday. In addition to teams that need a second baseman, clubs looking for a first baseman or a Ben Zobrist-type utility man will also have interest in the 30-year-old. Zobrist himself is a free agent this winter, but many front office personnel around the league have expressed concerns over the veteran’s age (he’ll be 35 next season) and are thus skeptical to offer him a long-term contract.

Enter Murphy, who has logged at least 60 games at second, first, third and left field. While he’s slightly less versatile than Zobrist (who can also man short, right and center if needed), Murphy also has five years on Zobrist and seems like a much more sound long-term investment. The Nationals, Red Sox and others could be fits for 2014 All-Star in that role.

Then there are teams that could use a first baseman, like the Orioles, Mariners and Rockies. While Murphy isn’t the prototypical power bat that usually mans first, he provides healthy power with a strong batting average and the ability to draw walks. The first base market is thin beyond Chris Davis this winter, which will leave teams in need trying to get creative. For those skeptical of shelling out big money for Asian import Byong-Ho Park, Murphy provides a much more proven option.

That all being said, the market for Murphy’s services will be more than healthy, and a pair of blunders over a two-day span won’t detract much from his free agent value. If one or two clubs have suddenly become skeptical, he’s lost a suitor here or there. But his skill set positions him to draw varying levels of attention from roughly half the league, and he should have no trouble securing a healthy payday entering 2016.

Next: Top Five Fits For David Price

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