Mets' loss is Nats' gain with Daniel Murphy

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has known Daniel Murphy for many of the wrong reasons over the past seven seasons. Murphy has been one of the toughest outs for Nationals pitchers as a member of the Mets since making his major league debut in 2007. So by signing Murphy, Rizzo has not only bolstered the Nats roster, but also damaged the division rival Mets lineup.

"It's a very exciting day here in Nats Land, landing a supremely talented, gritty, team-orientated player to help take us to the next level in Daniel Murphy," Rizzo said at the start of yesterday's introductory press conference at Nationals Park. "I've seen plenty of Daniel Murphy in my career as a general manager, believe me. Often from the other side of the field. He's a player that plays the game the right way. We love his attitude, his grit, and when the bright lights of not only New York City, but the major playoffs come, he shines the brightest."

Murphy played in 903 games before finally reaching his first postseason with the Mets last year. He made a thunderous debut, smashing seven homers - including one in a record-breaking six straight games - and was named National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

Now Murphy gets a chance to turn the tables on the Mets and help the Nationals defeat his old mates en route to a division crown.

"I got a lot of congratulatory texts from the guys I used to play with," Murphy said after signing his deal with the Nats. "David (Wright) and Jacob deGrom, even the manager, Terry Collins, reached out to me. I enjoyed my time in New York. It was a lot of fun. Some great relationships were made.

"But my wife and I are very excited about the relationships we're going to be able to make here and the opportunity that we're going to put ourselves in for 2016. As far as playing against them 19 times next year, I think the fact we're going to be playing them in spring training should help alleviate some of that, what will happen in the regular season. To be able to go up to St. Lucie or have the Mets come to us will kind of help get me ready, so to speak, for when that happens. But right now, we have an eye towards Viera."

After deciding to move Anthony Rendon permanently back to third base and then trading Yunel Escobar, Rizzo was determined to find a top-flight second baseman this winter. He chased Ben Zobrist before the versatile veteran signed with the Cubs. And then a reported deal with the Reds for second baseman Brandon Phillips fell apart. Not long after, Rizzo made a play for Murphy.

"He's a hard-nosed player, but he's a really smart, intelligent baseball mind," Rizzo said. "When you do your research and you talk to teammates, there's some glowing reviews on this player. He was a guy that we circled and identified early in the process. And then when it was time to get the deal done, we got the deal done."

Murphy called the negotiations on his new three-year, $37.5 million contract "short, sweet and awesome."

"I think with what Mr. Rizzo and Mr. Lerner have already done, they've laid the foundation of a really, really good and competitive team here," Murphy said. "I've got to experience that competitiveness being in New York. It's always a tough place to come in here and play. The rotation itself is deep and is talented. Then when you start talking about position players, you've got the best player in the National League and possibly on Earth hitting third for you every night. That's nice. Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Michael (A.) Taylor, it's a good group, and hopefully I can just add to the foundation already laid here."