It's not often that five-tool middle infielders hit free agency in their prime. Jose Reyes has a .329/.372/.485 line with 35 stolen bases and a league-leading 16 triples this season, so, despite his history of getting hurt, he will draw plenty of attention when he hits the free agent market this winter. Here's an early look at 13 possible suitors for the 28-year-old, who will cost any team but the Mets a top draft pick in 2012…
Apparent Fits
- Mets – Reyes has repeatedly stated his interest in staying in New York and the Mets appear to be open to bringing him back. They aren’t likely to offer seven years, but they figure to be involved until the end.
- Giants – Brandon Crawford could step in next year, while Mike Fontenot and Emmanuel Burriss figure to be reserves if they're back in 2012. On paper, the Giants are one of the best fits for Reyes, who would make the San Francisco lineup much more intimidating.
- Nationals – Despite Ian Desmond's presence at short, the Nationals could be a factor in the Reyes bidding this offseason. They’ve already been linked to Reyes in speculative looks ahead to the offseason.
- Phillies – Jimmy Rollins hits free agency after the season and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has never been one to shy away from the best players out there.
Other Possibilities
- Tigers – Jhonny Peralta has had a banner year for Detroit, but he has lots of experience at third base, so the Tigers could move him back to the hot corner to create space. Reyes would seem to be a fit for spacious Comerica Park.
- Reds – There are no guarantees for Paul Janish or Edgar Renteria in 2012. Zack Cozart is a logical internal shortstop candidate for Cincinnati, assuming he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow and is ready for Spring Training 2012. But would the Reds really offer Reyes more money than they’ve spent on any player since Ken Griffey Jr.?
- Twins – In a way, the Twins don't pass the sniff test as a possible suitor for Reyes. They've already committed $65MM to next year's team and it's hard to imagine them carrying two $20MM players. But there's room for improvement in a middle infield that now features Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe and Matt Tolbert.
- Angels – If the Angels want to make a splash, they could sign Reyes and trade Erick Aybar. They don't have a pressing need at short, however.
- Braves – It seems more likely that the Braves will work out a deal with Alex Gonzalez, but they do have an opening at short this winter.
- Cardinals – The Cardinals are interested in re-signing Rafael Furcal and would like to see what former first rounder Tyler Greene can do. Bringing Albert Pujols back figures to be the Cards' top offseason priority, so a run at Reyes seems unlikely.
- Brewers – Like the Cardinals, the Brewers have room for improvement at shortstop. Adding Reyes could help make up for the possible loss of free agent Prince Fielder.
- Red Sox – The Red Sox are big spenders, but it's not easy to imagine their front office signing another position player to a nine figure deal so soon after locking Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez up. It's possible, since Marco Scutaro won't necessarily return and Reyes offers far more pop than Jose Iglesias.
- Astros – Clint Barmes hits free agency, so the Astros will have an opening at short. It would be incredibly surprising to see Houston pursue such an expensive player after losing 100 games, especially since incoming owner Jim Crane is expected to lower payroll if and when the team's ownership transfer finally goes through.
I’m not sure that he is looking at $20m annually or $100m+ over the life of his contract.
I believe that Crane said the Astros were looking to get down to 50-60mil in payroll, so you can rule them out.
It would be nice top see the Padres jump in and try to sign a player they believe could fit their mold of “playing Petco park into an advantage”.
The Padres won’t be able to sign/attract impact power hitters because of how Petco plays. However, It’s not inconceivable they couldn’t entice a player like Reyes. Still probably Unlikely, sure. Especially with the Padres payroll. Having said that, if they are going to spend money, its going to be on that type of player. High avg, (contact) speed, defense.
Please no more splashes for the Angels… I’ll take aybar, thank you.
The Angels need to go after Fielder. Perfect fit, and when he can’t play first you have the best DH in the league. Aybar is fine at SS.
Im calling Tigers.
When Crawford and Worth were on the market last winter DD said there is only room for so many $100 million guy on one team. JV and Cabbie. Don`t get me wrong Id love Reyes in a Tigers uniform, with Jacksons speed as well. Plus handing Inge his walking papers would be sweet.
It would be nice to have a better leadoff hitter than Austin Jackson but I am not sure Reyes is worth the price of admission due to the nagging hamstring injuries. Illitch definitely wants to win since he is getting quite old now so maybe he greenlights the offer anyway.
I do think we will have a better idea after the playoffs are over and we see how the Tigers did.
As bad as id like to add a player like Reyes to the Tigers lineup, its a lose-lose. We all know he is going to be hurt and never live up to his contract.
I’d much rather send a few top prospects to the Marlins and take another top talent off their hands: Hanley Ramirez. Don’t think they wouldn’t give it a serious think.
Turner, Castellanos, and Smyly might be a good start to that conversation, but the Marlins are going to deal Ramirez right before moving into a new park? Doubtful.
It’s not like the Marlins are under the gun to sell out that stadium, Loria is more than content to lay low with payroll and sit on the shared-revenue income. Trading away a player that most in the organization consider to be at the least a thorn-in-the-side and coming off shoulder surgery isn’t all that impossible. Tigers could release Inge, move Peralta to third, and plug Ramirez in at SS. Fill the hole at 2B and the Tigers are set pretty good for awhile. Avila, Cabrera, new guy at 2B, Ramirez, and Peralta in the infield, Young, Jackson, and Boesch in the OF…not bad. They might even consider moving Jacob Turner for someone like Hanley. Not saying it’ll happen, but it’s more likely to happen than the Tigers signing Jose Reyes in free-agency and giving up two draft picks along with the near $20 mil per.
it would be awesome to see reyes or rollins leading off for us next year..but id hate to see the giants give all that money to a injury prone player when we have our leadoff hitter tearing it up in the minors..hopefully sabean doesnt jump the gun. i say resign kep and pick up a center fielder on a two year contract and our lineup would be solid. center fielder, sanchez, posey, sandoval, belt, huff, kep, scheirholtz, pitchers spot. not too shabby if their all healthy
i think crawford could be a stud at short in the future..but not yet, no need to rush him if we dont have to
I doubt the Tigers would employ 3 players with $20M salaries at once. Verlander makes $16M now and will be extended for north of $20M per year before that contract expires if healthy. Miggy is locked up for several more years at big money. Reyes is highly unlikely to play a majority of his team’s games for the life of the contract.
Say what you will about Miggy’s bad habits: the man shows up and plays.
What bad habits?
He’s obviously referring to his alcoholism and scorn for fat kids.
man who wouldn’t want to play at the SPACIOUS comerica park?
Really confused. is spacious in its name because thats what MLBTR always refers to it as
Cause its f’n huge!
You know, 420 to dead center isn’t spacious at all.
Blue Jays to play 2B?
you are a dumb person.
It’s interesting to see the Red Sox consistantly being listed as potential suitors for Reyes. Sure, he’s a great player, and don’t get me wrong with what I’m about to say, but at this stage in their careers, Reyes is a lock, minus his hamstring that gives him trouble from time to time. Iglesias has yet to prove anything to anyone (not bad mouthing Iglesias there, just stating the fact that he’s still in the minors and hasn’t had a stint in the majors long enough or with consistant playing time to go off of). Sure, he’s a great defender and that probably won’t change at the major league level, but do you wait and hope his bat comes around or sign a guy like Reyes who has a rare combo of speed and ability to hit the ball hard all over the field? Personally, I would be fine with whatever route they take, I was just throwing my two cents out there to see what people think and if they’re thinking about it the way I am. Who knows, Iglesias could become similar to the likes of the games other top shortstops.
Surprised that the Jays were left out of this, he’s the type of player that Anthopolous drools about.
Even as a Jays fan, don’t see it. For a player who relies so much on his legs and has had so many injuries recently, I can’t see him wanting to play on turf.
not only that, but Jays have a pretty decent SS right now, and i doubt reyes moves over to 2b. It would fix the lead off spot, but it doesn’t fit the defensive needs of the club.
“who would make the San Francisco lineup much more intimidating”
==========
Their lineup blows. If the SF lineup was even good, they’d be in first place. Even if they added Reyes, they would be barely an average lineup, at best.
Reyes might catch Ichiro Disease. He’ll get on and never get driven in.
ur talking about the injury filled lineup this year? yea obviously. but when you have way above average pitching..average hitting looks alot better.
He’s staying, relax. The Mets are the only team that understands the significance of Jose Reyes. Yes, they are not in a pennant race, but the Mets know if they have everyone healthy for the majority of the season, with Reyes, and a couple extra pitchers, they could “play meaningful game in September.”
i’m not so sure about that…i would take washington very seriously
What about the Dodgers? Signing Reyes to play short and having Gordon go to cebter puts Kemp in RF, which helps. That .375 obp would really help that lineup too.
why would you move kemp out of center? why would you move Gordon out of the infield?
kemp is one of the worst defensive CFs in the game. he fails at UZR, DRS, and the herpes test.
Great idea. Then sign Pujols to play first base and C.J. Wilson as the #5 starter. Done.
because that $100 mil could go to a better cause, like the divorce
Maybe if SF can get Zito and Huff to retire they could get him.
If the Mets let Reyes go this offseason, the New York Mets, and baseball in general, will lose one of their biggest fans.
I’m almost ready to walk away from the game as it is. Free Agency, and the insanely large contracts given out for mostly mediocre players have ruined the game.
Come on. You’d rather the mets financially cripple themselves for no reason? Its time to face facts, Mets are rebuilding.
Funny. It’s okay when the Mets overpay players to leave their team, but not when the Mets lose a player. Johan ( I know a trade but it happened because they could pay him), Beltran, Piazza, Bay……
What gives you the right to claim you’re one of baseball’s biggest fans and then claim you’d walk away over something that happens to a team every single year?
the biggest fans aren’t fair weather
Reyes makes no sense for the Twins at that price. They should have something like 30 MM available to spend next season, and it should be going to pitching and a viable backup option at catcher.
whitesox out of no where….move either him or alexi to 2nd…and beckham either back to AAA or back to 3rd….haha never going to happen but would be funny…if the sox mve enough people (floyd, quentin, danks, maybe rios and dunn, yes while eating some of their contracts, they could have the money for it) haha
I know it’s not gonna happen but he’d be a perfect fit in ATL. If the Braves could get rid of Lowe they’d have enough to go after him. This lineup would be awesome:
Lineup:
Bourn – CF
Reyes – SS
Jones – 3B
McCann – C
Uggla – 2B
Freeman – 1B
Prado – LF
Heyward – RF
hahahahahhahahahaha
Who knows if the injury bug will bite him again
I know that I may be criticized for saying this, but if I were a GM, I wouldn’t even bother attempting to get him unless I was one of the higher payrolled teams where I can offered to deal with him on the DL. With his history of injuries. And the fact is he is starting to slow down slightly speed wise, 30 SB in over 600 AB in 2010, and should finish with about 40 in just under 600 AB this year, he’s no longer the 60 SB guy and, you have to wonder if it weren’t for this contract year where he’s having a career year BA. wise, his OBP would be similar to ’10 where it was in the .320 neighborhood. I can’t help to reservations.
A seven-year deal which he is seeking, would make me extremely hesitant, let alone offering his a 4-year deal like Furcal received when he left the Braves. This can be a signing that can both cripple your teams ability to win and ultimately cost you your job.
So unless you plan on him being the Horse of your lineup, I, if I had the option to sign him, would more so, based on the Market value of SS offer him say a 3 year deal in the neighborhood of a $16m a year.
Remember, Jeter was the exception signed because of sentiment. Aside from him, the next highest paid player at SS is Troy Tulowitzki, who’s arguably the best SS in baseball today, who’s avg. $15.775,000 on the contract he just signed with Col. and then it drops to Hanley Ramirez’s, who avg. $11,666,000 a year, who is dealing with injuries this year which makes one think this season is an abbreviation.
So 3yrs/48m with mutual options for a 4th and possibly 5th year is the best I would do, and that’s is assuming that I was a team that had the luxury to deal with him getting injured once more.
Plus with other talent out there, I’d rather get more bang for my buck. If I was going to spend $20+, on one player, which is what Reyes is supposedly seeking, I’d rather go after Prince Fielder. But aside from that there are more reasonable option that allows you to focus on signing other players to create a deeper lineup. There’s Jimmy Rollins, Rafael Furcal, Carlos Guillen, Possibly Brandon Phillips to name a few for those seeking a SS, and it would still allow you to have the flexibility to sign another quality player to fill up a hole that you may have.
The Diamondbacks could show interest depending on what they do with Aaron Hill. If they feel Drew isn’t fully healed or will leave after 2012 they could sign Reyes. I imagine payroll will go up
He is called a five-tool player here, but I want to know, “which five tools?” He’s not a power hitter. His defense is good, but not great. My guess is the five tools are: batting average, speed, arm, ability to suffer a leg injury, and ability to wear a skull cap.
You forgot dancing (I bought a Jose Reyes jersey 1 month after he was called up)
He is all about the money. The Mets will sign him to a 7yr $110 million deal and he will be the latest curse for the Mets. As he will never play enough to live up to that contract.
Arizona is worth mentioning b/c Stephen Drew’s injury could force him off SS to 3B (Roberts to 2B, Hill to free agency), but Kevin Towers’ reluctance to give out long-term contracts will probably come into play.
I wouldn’t completely rule out the Brewers in the Reyes sweepstakes. Attanasio takes winning seriously and he doesn’t take lightly the support his team gets from its fan base. If he loses Fielder to FA, he may make a serious run at Reyes. They have a need at SS and no upper level prospects at the position. Now he may choose to try and extend Greinke rather than spend big money for a SS, but Reyes certainly would fit that lineup.
feel free to disagree with me on this, i really don’t care either way, but the yanks could make a run considering they could move jeter to 2nd, have reyes at short since he’s an upgrade over eduardo nunez’s defense, have a-rod dh, and put cano and his rocket arm over at 3rd
I know this was written a couple of weeks ago, perhaps the Red Sox should go hard after Reyes. They’ve got to make some big splash for their nervous fan base after this September’s collapse.