New York Mets long-time second baseman Daniel Murphy might have played his final game at Citi Field in NYC when the Los Angeles Dodgers forced a do-or-die Game 5 in the National League Division Series between the two teams. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, pitching on short rest, finally went over the hump on October as he led his team to a 3-1 win.

Murphy was at the plate when the tying runs at the bottom of the eighth inning were on with two outs. He homered earlier in the fourth inning off Kershaw, the second of the three-time Cy Young winner in the NLDS, but flied out off closer Kenley Jensen to end the inning, per New York Post.

"It was a cutter out over the plate. I just missed it. Wished I wouldn't have. We didn't give ourselves a lot of chances. The biggest chance I got against Kenley, and unfortunately I couldn't finish the at-bat off right," Murphy told reporters after the game.

The 30-year-old second baseman is one of the longest-tenured Mets. He was drafted in 2006, according to the New York Post. He is making the most of his playoff debut, but he will be a free agent if the Mets doesn't offer him a qualifying offer.

According to CBS Sports, the MLB has set the qualifying offer for the 2015-16 offseason to approximately $15.8 million. The report noted that Murphy would likely to receive a QO. However, with the Mets being tight on salary and have less-expensive options for the position such as Dilson Herrera and Wilmer Flores, he really could be leaving at the end of the season.

MLB Daily Dish reports that Murphy is likely to be in line for a nice payday this winter as he finished in the top 10 in offense for all second basemen and one of the few options on the market. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the 2014 All-Star can receive a maximum contract ranging from $30 to $40 million for three years.

Sherman also added that Murphy's defensive abilities could make him an AL team signing, wherein he could get some time at as the designated hitter. The problem with the Mets payroll restrictions is that they will need every dollar they can, especially if they plan on re-signing outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who won't be cheap, per MLB Daily Dish.

The report also noted that this would be the only chance at a multi-year deal for Murphy. But if ever the Mets decide to give him a QO and he accepts, it will likely lead to him being traded for prospects as the team won't be letting him go for nothing.