Mets rumors: Mets unlikely to re-sign Daniel Murphy

According to the Daily News, the Mets do not plan on re-signing second baseman Daniel Murphy after the season. Anonymous team sources indicate that despite his incredible postseason performance, Murphy is not a part of the Mets' long-term plans.

The report is a sobering development in the team's excellent postseason run. While Murphy has recently claimed to not be thinking about his pending free agency amid playoff baseball, his growing market value has been a hot topic in baseball circles. On the heels of SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen describing Murphy as "a good sixth or seventh hitter" and "a net negative," this report suggests that this sentiment may be common within the Mets' front office.

Even if they're not interested in a long-term deal, the Mets could still extend a qualifying offer (QO) to Murphy for 2016. The QO rate has been set at $15.8 million, which is what the Mets would be on the hook for on a one-year deal if Murphy were to accept it. If Murphy declines the offer and signs somewhere else, the Mets would get a compensation draft pick between the first and second rounds of the June draft.

With a bare middle infield market in the 2015-2016 free agent class, Murphy's torrid postseason may garner a substantial contract for the second baseman; if the Daily News report is accurate, the Mets may not be the team to provide it.