As the calendar nears July and baseball's contenders begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, it becomes prime season for speculation on the 'haves' snagging key roster-completing talent from the 'have-nots.'

The New York Mets land squarely in the 'have-not' category, and rumors are swirling that second baseman Daniel Murphy is drawing the eye of a few teams looking to fill a hole up the middle.

The San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays have been kicking the tires on Murphy, according to the New York Daily News.

Murphy, 29, is leading the National League with 92 hits, and is slashing .298/.353/.417 (120 OPS+) with six home runs.

He represents a potential upgrade for both teams. The Giants are testing rookie Joe Panik at the keystone, while the Jays are trotting out journeymen utility players Steve Tolleson and Munenori Kawasaki. Both teams are holding on to division leads and could use the extra lineup protection heading into the second half of the season.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson spoke highly of Murphy at a season-ticket holders event earlier this week.:

Look, we have a real appreciation for Dan Murphy. Murphy is somebody who is an offensive player, who has really done some things this year to improve himself as an offensive player. His on-base percentage is much higher than it has been in recent years. He goes the other way….We talk about all the time: We're looking for players that are willing to play in New York or can play in New York. He hits in New York. He hits in this ballpark

It remains unclear if this is a case of Alderson talking up a potential trade piece or genuinely reassuring fans of Murphy's staying power. Last season, Alderson explicitly said the team was unwilling to trade Marlon Byrd, only to ship him to Pittsburgh less than a week later.