As expected the Mets have made the $15.8 million Qualifying Offer to free agent second baseman Daniel Murphy.
During the two-week stretch in which Murphy was doing a pretty solid Babe Ruth impression there was lots of talk about him cashing in with a huge long-term contract on the open market, but even a less hyperbolic projection would likely convince him to turn down a one-year, $15.8 million deal to remain in New York.
If he turns it down and signs elsewhere the Mets would receive a first-round draft pick as compensation. Murphy hit .281 with 14 homers and a .770 OPS in the regular season, which is right in line with his lifetime .288 batting average and .755 OPS.
