Daniel Murphy would be perfect addition for Yankees

If things continue to go poorly for the Nationals, the Yankees should seriously consider making a move for Daniel Murphy to boost their bench.

Brian Cashman’s focus at the moment is trying to improve the Yankees roster around the edges. Part of that strategy means he needs to anticipate which players might be made available before they actually hit waivers. Daniel Murphy is exactly that sort of player.

Many baseball executives thought the Nationals might be sellers at the trade deadline, but they opted to keep their team in tact to make one last push towards the playoffs. Given the fact that they are currently nine games behind the Braves in the NL East, it’s fair to call that a mistake.

It’s unlikely the Nats are going to divest themselves of serious stars like Bryce Harper before the end of their season, but they will absolutely consider letting some fringe veterans go. Letting go of a high-priced veteran like Murphy could be a savvy baseball and financial move by Washington.

Murphy will be a free agent this winter and it’s pretty unlikely that the Nationals will try to bring him back. If they can get any sort of meaningful prospect in return for his services this season they should jump at the chance.

At the very least, the Nationals should run him through waivers to see what happens.

If that does occur, expect Cashman to have the Yankees near the front of the line to acquire him. Adding a talented left-handed bat that has already proven he can handle the pressure of playing in New York would be a big time acquisition for the Yankees.

Murphy, of course, made his name in the majors across town with the Mets for the majority of his career.

Murphy isn’t the same player he was during his time in Queens, but he can still hit. He’s currently slashing .310/.354/.446 in the nation’s capital. Those numbers would provide Aaron Boone with a pretty significant upgrade over the likes of Neil Walker, Shane Robinson and possibly Greg Bird.

As is the case with any of these potential moves, it all comes down to cost. The Yankees shouldn’t give up any significant prospect for Murphy. He could provide the team a nice boost down the stretch, but he’s not good enough to turn the AL East race on its ear.

Giving up a marginal prospect is certainly acceptable, but it shouldn’t be anyone the organization really values.

In the end, expect the Yankees to add someone like Murphy in the next week or two. There’s room to improve the bottom of the order and Cashman will make it happen before it’s too late.