Daniel Murphy declines Mets' qualifying offer

Daniel Murphy declined the Mets' one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer before Friday's 5 p.m. EST deadline, opening the door for him to seek a lucrative multiyear deal elsewhere.

Though Murphy, 30, still can re-sign with the Mets, a reunion is unlikely. They have shown little appetite for the kind of multiyear deal Murphy will command on the open market.

Instead, Murphy's tenure with the Mets almost certainly will come to an end. He had been willing to negotiate in season, but his representatives and the Mets never held talks.

The club has long had concerns about how Murphy's defensive range might decline with age.

Because the Mets made a qualifying offer to Murphy that was declined, they will receive a supplemental-round draft pick as compensation if he does sign elsewhere.

Chosen by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2006 draft, Murphy overcame his defensive shortcomings and turned himself into an All-Star second baseman. His bat will earn him riches. He's a career .288 hitter with a knack for making contact, a standout skill in an era of high strikeouts.

Murphy's memorable postseason only increased his value on the open market. He hit .328 with seven home runs (including a major-league record stretch in which he homered in six straight playoff games). Though he struggled in the World Series, hitting .150 with a critical miscue at second base, Murphy solidified himself as one of the best hitters among infielders in free agency.

He mostly has played second base but also can play third and first. An American League team also can use him as a designated hitter.

"A lot of people have been saying at some point, someone's going to accept," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said Thursday. "We don't know who that will be or for what reason."

Until Friday, no player had ever accepted a qualifying offer since the advent of the system three years ago. But outfielder Colby Rasmus became the first, accepting a qualifying offer to remain with the Astros. Catcher Matt Wieters followed suit hours later to stay with the Orioles, as did pitcher Brett Anderson with the Dodgers.

"In Dan's case, he's a lifelong Met, so I'm sure there's some attractiveness there," Ricco said Thursday. "But he has to make that decision, decide what's best for him."

Instead, Murphy chose to decline, not a surprise with his value perhaps higher than it ever will be again.

Now the Mets must find a replacement for Murphy, one who possesses the same kind of versatility and offensive upside.

Free agent Ben Zobrist appears to be a fit, though the Mets will be faced with stiff competition. Like Murphy, Zobrist can play multiple positions, including second base.

Prospect Dilson Herrera is first in line among the Mets' in-house options to fill in at second.

The Mets signed 27-year-old utilityman Ty Kelly to a minor-league deal. He will be invited to spring training.

The Orioles drafted Kelly in the 13th round in 2009. He split last season with the Triple-A affiliates of the Cardinals and Blue Jays and hit .222 with three homers and 33 RBIs.