Rockies agree to 2-year, $24M deal with Murphy

The Colorado Rockies signed Daniel Murphy to a two-year contract with a third-year mutual option, the team announced.

The deal guarantees Murphy will earn at least $24 million, making $10 million in 2019 and $8 million in 2020. The mutual option is worth $12 million and comes with a $6-million buyout, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal added that if any award bonus is earned, Murphy's buyout total increases to $7 million, $4 million of which is deferred without interest. He can also earn an additional $2 million each time he's traded.

Murphy, a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger, split last season with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs, posting a combined .790 OPS in an injury-shortened season over 91 games between the two clubs.

The 33-year-old has spent the majority of his career at second base, a position previously occupied in Colorado by free agent DJ LeMahieu. However, recent injuries could relegate Murphy to play first base, shifting Ian Desmond to the outfield, as Rosenthal suggests.

Murphy is coming off of a three-year, $37.5-million contract he signed with the Nationals following a historic 2015 postseason during which he won NLCS MVP as a member of the New York Mets after hitting seven home runs over a six-game span. Over his first two seasons with the Nats, Murphy authored a .956 OPS with 90 doubles and 48 home runs in 286 games, finishing second in NL MVP voting to Kris Bryant for the 2016 campaign.

Knee injuries hampered Murphy in 2018, as he didn't make his season debut until early June and was limited to designated hitting duties and first base. Washington opted to trade Murphy in late August to the Cubs for Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Murphy posted a .297/.329/.471 slash line with six homers and two stolen bases for the Cubs.