Will he stay? Mets give free-agent 2B Murphy qualifying offer
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Daniel Murphy #28 of the New York Mets celebrates after scoring off of a double hit by Lucas Duda #21 of the New York Mets in the second inning against Travis Wood #37 of the Chicago Cubs during game four of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 21, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK -- Second baseman Daniel Murphy has been given a $15.8 million qualifying offer by the New York Mets.
New York announced its decision Friday, five days after it lost the World Series to the Kansas City Royals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 30-year-old homered in a record six straight postseason games but then slumped in the World Series, hitting .150 (3 for 20) and making key errors in Games 4 and 5. He batted .281 during the regular season with 73 RBI and a career-best 14 homers.
Murphy, who became a free agent after the Series, has until Nov. 13 to accept.
If a team made a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major-league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former club would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The team signing that player loses its first-round pick in the amateur draft, unless that pick is among the top 10, in which case the club loses its next-highest pick.