Daniel Murphy

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com was told by a league source that the Dodgers attempted to trade for Daniel Murphy at the Winter Meetings and may make another run a him.

Murphy, 26, hit .320 in 109 games this season after missing all of 2010 with a torn MCL in his right knee. The Dodgers would likely employ him in a platoon with outfielder Andre Ethier, who struggles mightily against left-handed pitching. It is not yet known who the Dodgers would be willing send to the Mets in return, though Gurnick notes that Tony Gwynn Jr. could be offered as a defensive specialist. Still, it’s worth mentioning that the Mets don’t have any real reason to do the deal at this point with their recent acquisition of Andres Torres.

The Mets are unlikely to trade Daniel Murphy.

“Some players are more valuable to us than other clubs,” a Mets official told ESPN New York. Murphy is currently slated to enter the 2012 season as the Mets’ starting second baseman. Since Angel Pagan won’t lead off 162 times, Murphy is expected to bat first a handful of times. Murphy, 26, batted .320/.362/.448 in 423 plate appearances this year.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Tigers, Blue Jays and Padres have called the Mets about a potential trade for infielder Daniel Murphy.

Murphy is currently slated to enter the 2012 season as the Mets’ starting second baseman, but that could change if GM Sandy Alderson gets an attractive trade proposal. Murphy, 26, batted .320/.362/.448 in 423 plate appearances this year. Sherman says the Mets like Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks and view him as a potential alternative in center field to Angel Pagan.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Sunday that he is committing to Daniel Murphy as the starting second baseman, but reiterated that New York doesn’t plan to pursue a free agent second baseman.

The Mets were reportedly shopping Murphy last month, so clearly they aren’t smitten with him. But with Jose Reyes departing for Miami and Ruben Tejada taking over as the full-time shortstop, Murphy appears to be New York’s best option at second. The 26-year-old hit .320/.362/.448 in 423 plate appearances this year.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets have informed teams that Daniel Murphy is “available.”

In other words, the Mets aren’t necessarily ready to commit to Murphy as their starting second baseman if Jose Reyes departs and Ruben Tejada becomes the starting shortstop. Still, he’s not yet arbitration-eligible and the Mets would love to fit his bat into the lineup, so a trade appears unlikely.

If the Mets fail to re-sign Jose Reyes, Daniel Murphy will likely start at second base in 2012.

Ruben Tejada would become the team’s regular shortstop. Murphy doesn’t have a ton of experience at second, nor does he have great natural range, but the Mets like his bat and want to keep him in the everyday lineup. The 26-year-old hit .320/.362/.448 in 423 plate appearances this year.