DALLAS — The Tigers, Blue Jays and Padres have all inquired about the Mets’ Daniel Murphy.
Detroit appears most intrigued, viewing Murphy as a third base replacement for Brandon Inge. The Mets like the available lefty-swinging Andy Dirks, who is capable of playing all three outfield position. Dirks hit .251 with seven homers in 219 at-bats in his rookie season.
The Mets like Murphy’s bat, but remain concerned he does not have a defensive position and cannot stay consistently healthy.
* With $43 million in borderline untradeable 2012 dollars invested in Jake Peavy, Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, the White Sox are very serious about dealing John Danks and/or Gavin Floyd to lower payroll.
* Like the Braves with Jair Jurrjens, Chicago is waiting until free agents Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson sign to see what the trade market truly is for Danks and Floyd. For now, they are asking too high a price for Danks, such as Manny Banuelos from the Yankees, who will not make that trade because Danks is in his walk year and viewed by the Yankees as more of a No. 3 than an ace.
Should the White Sox lower their demands, however, there could be a deal.
* On the subject of the Yankees system, there are members of the organization who now view center fielder Mason Williams as their best prospect, though he is just 20 and has yet to play above the New York-Penn League. However, the Yankees see him as possessing five tools, aptitude and love of the game, and think he could be a fast climber.
* The Mets let Jose Reyes’ camp know they were willing to go into the $75 million-to-$85 million range with a sixth-year option that could have taken the deal over $100 million. But one team official said the actual ceiling — had Reyes shown he preferred staying — was going to be $90 million guaranteed. Instead, Reyes took a six-year, $106 million deal with the Marlins.