Mets reportedly won't bring back Murphy despite playoff homer tear
Daniel Murphy has morphed into the Mets' version of Mr. October, but that doesn't mean he will be back with the Amazins next season.
Despite homering in four consecutive postseason games, the Mets don't plan to bring back the veteran second baseman, the New York Daily News reported Monday.
"He's been great, really great," one source told the paper, "but it changes nothing."
Murphy has homered off some of the best pitchers in the league during the Mets' postseason run, hitting dingers against Dodgers stars Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke and Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. But New York's cost-cutting measures will apparently mean Murphy will be playing elsewhere next year.
"If they are keeping their payroll in the same neighborhood, they can't afford to keep him," a rival GM told the Daily News. "He's making $8 million now, will probably get a bump on that and he's going to want some years.
"They already have all that money invested in Juan Lagares (4 years, $22.5 million) and Michael Cuddyer (1 year, $10 million) who are both backups now," he continued. "You can't keep your payroll under control like that."
