The New York Mets have spurned a trade offer that would have sent second baseman Daniel Murphy to the San Diego Padres for right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson, a source has told John Harper of the NY Daily News.
One source says the Mets have already rejected an offer from the Padres of reliever Luke Gregerson for Murphy.
That alone is intriguing, considering that Gregerson, a 28-year-old righthander, seems to fit the bill as a solid reliever who could upgrade the Mets’ bullpen immediately.
The Mets have been on the hunt for bullpen help for some time, but apparently do not see Gregerson as the solution. Gregerson, 28, owns a 3.05 ERA in 47 appearances this year, striking out 47 batters in 44 1/3 innings, and is under team control through the 2014 season.
Murphy, who Harper states has come up in trade discussions, is hitting .306/.343/.434 in 94 games on the season. If the Mets decide that the 27-year-old Murphy is available for the right offer, the Oakland Athletics could be a good fit for the middle infielder. The A's have been searching for middle infield help for some time and their closer, Grant Balfour, could be a solution to the Mets' bullpen woes.
____________________________________________________________________
Should the Mets trade Murphy for bullpen help?
____________________________________________________________________