In conversations with other teams at the GM Meetings in Milwaukee this week, a source confirmed the Mets informed other teams that Daniel Murphy is "available."

That does not mean Murphy ultimately will be traded, but does explain why Sandy Alderson did not fully commit to Murphy being the primary second baseman assuming Jose Reyes departs and Ruben Tejada becomes Reyes' successor at shortstop.

Still, the expectation is Murphy remains a Met and, in fact, emerges as the second baseman. Despite twice getting injured manning second base, Murphy's bat is an asset. Even more valuable is Murphy's salary. He is not yet eligible for arbitration, meaning his salary will be close to the major league minimum.

In revealing the Mets are making Murphy available, an executive from another team cautioned that his organization will leave Milwaukee with the names of roughly 100 players who are "available" around baseball. For most of those players, nothing materializes trade-wise.

Murphy, by the way, recently expressed confidence the Grade 2 strain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee that he suffered in early August is largely behind him. He did not require surgery.