With the MLB offseason happening and a lot of free agents being signed. An under the radar player was signed by a rival team. 2B Daniel Murphy signed a three year, $37.5 million dollar contract with the Washington Nationals. This was big after Murphy, had great postseason run with the New York Mets this past postseason. Earlier this offseason, Met's fans sort of had an idea that Murphy wasn't returning, when the Mets signed 2B Neil Walker. As a non Met fan, I feel like this was wrong of what Murphy did. Murphy got offered the same amount of money from the Mets, it was just that the Nationals gave him two more years. The Nationals who finished 2nd to the Mets this year, must be really happy that Murphy signed with them. If you look at both teams on paper, the Mets are still the better team due to their pitching staff which is valued at 1 billion dollars.
Even though the Mets lost Murphy this offseason, they got a replacement in Walker and signed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and a back up outfielder in Alejandro De Aza. The Mets who made it to the World Series this year, in my opinion didn't need to replace anybody and I would have liked for them to bring back Murphy because of his locker room presence and he was a good team player. I think what the Mets have done this offseason is a real improvement, and Mets fan's shouldn't be disappointed in Murphy leaving, because Walker is just as good. I think the Mets organization and fans both know that the Mets are still the better team. With the Mets rotation and their sub-par lineup, all they need is one or two solid middle relievers because they have a lock down closing pitcher in Jeurys Familia. With the team the Mets have coming into next season I feel like they can make it back to the World Series.
The Nationals on the other hand, are trying to take the National League East back from the Mets, with their superstar Bryce Harper and key factors like Ryan Zimmerman and a pitching staff including Stephen Strasberg and Max Scherzer. Its kind of early too tell, since have pitchers and catcher haven't reported yet, but you could tell the Mets pitching staff is the real deal; they are valued at a billion dollars but only getting paid a combined 8 million dollars will soon be asking for more money and the Mets might have to. give more money to these star players if they do want to keep them. My predication is that they wont have enough money to keep them and they will go sign with other teams. So the Mets should take advantage while they have them and hopefully win a world series or two when they can.
