New York Mets Free Agents: Daniel Murphy, Yoenis Cespedes Not Expected to Return to Queens
It was a great 2015 season for the New York Mets. Many MLB fans counted them out midseason, but they proved doubters wrong by going all the way to the World Series, where they eventually lost to the Kansas City Royals.
The Mets have been busy making moves this offseason, but they do have two players who were on the roster last season who contributed a lot, and are both free agents. Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy are both unsigned at the moment.
Cespedes proved to be a huge addition by the Mets last year from the Detroit Tigers. The Cuban outfielder gave the Mets that big spark they lacked on offense, and he made plays in the outfield. Once the Mets acquired Cespedes, it felt like their whole season changed. Cespedes was even in the National League MVP conversation against Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals for a while. Despite playing just 57 games for the Mets last season, Cespedes still ranked third on the team in home runs, second in triples, fifth in RBIs, and first in batting average. Very impressive considering Cespedes only played one third of the season for the Mets.
Regardless of all that, it doesn't appear as if Cespedes will return to the Big Apple, specifically Queens. Cespedes isn't exactly the most consistent player, and he will cost the Mets quite a bit if they do agree to terms. The Mets have a lot of money wrapped up in their elite pitching staff, and who could blame them?
According to the New York Post, the Kansas City Royals are one of four teams who have emerged as frontrunners to sign Cespedes. The other three teams consist of the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants.
The Royals still haven't made a definitive choice on Dominican starter Johnny Cueto, but it feels as if they are letting him walk as a free agent. The Royals just can't compete against the Los Angeles Dodgers spending. By not re-signing Cueto, that very much opens the door for a Cespedes-Royals deal. The Royals offense ranked seventh in runs scored last year, so there's not a dying need to add Cespedes to the roster.
As for Daniel Murphy, it looks like he will be playing elsewhere next season. The Mets recently signed Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera, and the odds of general manager Sandy Alderson bringing back Murphy remains small.
Murphy has spent his entire career with the Mets, and he went on an historic home run stretch in the playoffs in 2015. Murphy hit a home run in six consecutive games and broke numerous franchise postseason records. Murphy also had a career high 14 home runs this season, but the Mets are probably making a wise decision by letting him walk. Murphy isn't getting any younger, and he's never even had 75 RBI's in one year.
Rumors have circulated that the New York Yankees could be interested in the second baseman, but nothing definitive has been confirmed between the Bronx Bombers and Murphy.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1
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