Despite the specter of what is reported to be “at least” a 60-game suspension under the league’s domestic violence policy hanging over his head and a significant amount of money remaining on his contract, Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes still has some trade interest around the league, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported earlier this morning that Reyes’ suspension could be announced today, and several others in the media have since heard the same, which would seem to suggest that the league will indeed announce a punishment for Reyes, who was arrested and had criminal charges filed against him last October due to allegations of abuse from his wife. Reyes was slated to face a trial on Opening Day, but the charges were dropped in late March because his wife was no longer cooperating with the investigation. He’s been on paid administrative leave for the entirety of the 2016 season while MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred investigates the matter. Per Rosenthal’s report, instead of serving an additional 60 unpaid days on top of his paid leave, Reyes will be required to pay back the money that he has earned thus far in 2016 and then serve out the remainder of the length of the suspension (also without pay, of course).
It’s somewhat surprising to hear any rumblings of trade interest in Reyes. In addition to the deeply concerning allegations of abuse, he’s owed $39.945MM through the end of the 2017 season, assuming a 60-game suspension. That’s no small price for any player, let alone one with this type of off-field issues and one whose most recent on-field activity resulted in a .274/.310/.378 batting line despite splitting the season between two of the game’s best environments for offense (Toronto’s Rogers Centre and Denver’s Coors Field). Metrics like OPS+ and wRC+, which are weighted based on a player’s home park and league, felt that Reyes’ overall offensive contribution was 16 to 20 percent worse than that of a league average bat in 2015. Beyond that, he’s also received negative ratings from both Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved in each of the past seven seasons for his work at shortstop.
Reyes, who will turn 33 two days after Colorado plays its 60th game of the season (June 11), was productive at the plate as recently as 2014, and batted a solid .289/.342/.419 from 2012-14 between the Marlins and Blue Jays. One also has to imagine that given his off-field issues and the meteoric rise of his replacement, Trevor Story, the Rockies would be willing to eat a portion of the salary that remains on Reyes’ contract. Alternatively, the Rockies could show a willingness to take on a similarly undesirable contract from another club. Speculating further, a rebuilding club could agree to take on a significant portion of Reyes’ contract as a means of persuading the Rockies to include a meaningful prospect or two in the trade, then simply cut bait on Reyes.
It remains possible that a team (or multiple teams) would have interest in adding Reyes to its roster and hoping for a return to form at the plate. The Yankees acquired Aroldis Chapman from the Reds this offseason as he was dealing with his own domestic violence allegations, although Chapman is a cheaper, more productive player than Reyes and never had criminal charges filed against him. In spite of that, the return for Chapman was widely considered to be light. If there is indeed some degree of trade interest in Reyes, I’d expect that it’s conditional on significant financial/prospect incentive being included in the deal for the acquiring team and very little, if anything, going back to the Rockies in terms of young talent.
Why would any team want to trade for a player that may not even step foot on a field this year. I understand he is still a decent SS but he is facing suspension and can never stay healthy.
I’d list off the normal teams that take players who have nor problems with lack of morals.. Tho some fans would jump in and declare everyone should get a chance.. Even wife beaters to redeem themselves…
Colorado should can Reyes and I tip my hat to them for the courage.. let him play in some Indy league with no media coverage, tho that will never happen with so many teams that could care less about low life’s like this.
Agreed,and to be honest there’s a lot of good young shortstops out there today
Well, obviously no one’s gonna make that trade until they know how long he’s suspended for.
Bad contract for another bad contract. There’s been some bad swaps recently that have not gone either teams way (Chris Johnson for Michael Bourne and Nick Swisher comes to mind) but it could always work out to favor both teams, especially if it helps teams morale (not that I could see Jose Reyes helping a team).
Swisher has been making a comeback in the yankees minor league system though.
I just saw him play last weekend actually (live in Wilkes-Barre where the Yankees’ AAA plays). He looked good.
It’s been many years since Reyes was anything but a sieve on the field. His error rate is near twenty a year, but in reality it’s much higher. He costs you games.
His bat gives you 50 RBIs a year, but most are garbage time and ineffectual for wins.
In the dugout he seems more concerned with concocting high-five routines than anything to do with baseball. On the field he is an embarrassment to the game.
All in all not a good character to have around.
probably the Braves wanting to take his salary on for prospects/draft picks/international signing bonuses/to hang out with Olivera
I could see that to an extent, but then they would be blocking Swanson and Albies when they are truly ready.
No they wouldnt be blocked. Tradeand take on salary, get the prospects picks signing slots you want, release him. They did the same to bronson arroyo. Took his contract for touissant and cut him.
actually I think they flipped him to LA in the Uribe deal
i take that back it was the Olivera deal
Yeah and Bronson was only one season at $10M. Reyes with 2018 buyout is $48M. Granted 2016 wouldn’t matter as he would not be paid if suspended the entire year, I believe.
Reyes está en una situación fea, porque el ya no tiene las condiciones que exhibía en un principio. Se lesiona frecuentemente y eso ha mermado su producción ofensiva, en las bases y defensivas.
If the Rockies cover all but a couple million a year, he’s worth a shot. As the author points out, as recently as 2014 he was a well above average player (by fWAR).
Baseball version of Greg Hardy — buyer beware! Cowboys tried Hardy and everyone in the organization now agree it was a huge mistake.
Question is? Who wouldn’t take a shot on Reyes, he’s a solid player. I would rather have him than some shortstops in the league
Answer. Any team that value’s its public image should be very concerned about taking Reyes.
Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers, Royals, Twins, Athletics, Angels (no reason for a non-contending team to acquire anything more than a placeholder for Simmons), Mariners, Astros, Mets, Marlins, Nationals, Reds, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Rockies themselves, Diamondbacks (probably), Padres (probably) all have better shortstops than Reyes already
That leaves the Yankees (and Gregorius is arguably better than Reyes), Rays, White Sox, Rangers, Braves, Phillies as the only teams in my view that could upgrade with Reyes at shortstop. And contract situations (like with Andrus) or organizational status (like the Braves or Phillies) leave limited opportunities for him regardless, and that’s not even including his biggest black mark
Yankees have Gregorious, Rangers have both Andrus and Desmond, Phillies top prospect is a shortstop. I believe the White Sox have a rookie shortstop at AAA. That would leave Tampa and Atlanta as the only teams with a real need. Don’t see Tampa doing it for financial reasons and Atlanta will most likely be unwilling to trade anyone but their scrap-heap guys that are in the Majors now with big contracts.
I would say Mariners and Twins are a good fit, who knows maybe Cabrera from the mets struggles in the near future and Reyes makes a comeback
I agree with you on all of your points. Left those 6 teams based on pure talent alone, and Gregorius is arguably better than Reyes. Phillies and Braves make no sense unless buying a prospect, and I acknowledged that Andrus isn’t moving either, so Texas won’t bite. Could only see the White Sox and Rays (and, as you noted, the Rays are only a possibility if Colorado eats essentially the whole contract and receives nothing in return, which seems possible).
Twins maybe from a baseball standpoint, but they’re fly rebuilding, so I don’t think they make much sense. I really like Ketel Marte of the Mariners (he’s a top 10 SS overall IMO), so I don’t see the fit there at all
Nationals? Espinoza has been terrible, unless you mean trea Turner. Tulo has been terrible, tough to say he is definitively better at this point. Padres Alexei Ramirez is certainly not better. Alcides Escobar of the totals stinks.
Fair enough, I was actually referring to Turner. I’d take Tulowitzki or Ramirez over Reyes still definitely. I agree with you on Escobar, but he’s the Royals lead-off hitter and a guy they run out there for 160 games per year, so I see no way they pursue Reyes.
Yeah, depending on how much they take on.
I could see a few teams willing to sign him if he were cut, but in TRADE….that is surprising. Eating all but $2m-3m/yr seems to make the most sense for COL, if they can find a team willing to take the risk.
At league minimum (assuming he is cut), I can see the Mets at least considering him for the 25th spot to get some speed for late inning subs.
Are the Rockies paying his entire contract or are the Marlins our Blue Jays still paying some?
It’s all Colorado, per Cot’s
I read the words “trade interest” and “Jose Reyes” and I had to do a double take. I came close to tears of joy. This would be the best thing for the Rockies since taking Tulowitzki over Wade Townsend (who a lot of other Rockies fans wanted them to take in 05).
Here are the worst short stops in the league:
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=bat&#…
He’d have to be an upgrade over the top 5.
to A’s
for B Butler & Co Co Crisp.
or SD for Melvin Upton
Do the Braves take him in exchange for the Rockies taking back Nick Markakis and Colorado’s international bonus pool and a handful of compensatory picks?
Through May 31, that is like starting the season on the DL. I could see 4 teams interested.
White Sox…and he should get ready to be a utility guy.
It’ll be to the Braves for Aybar and rockies with throw in some kind draft compensation plus cash
Everyone seems to be assuming Reyes will stay at SS. It’s much more likely he gets moved to 2B at this point in his career. His defense at SS has degraded significantly. He still has enough of a bat to have some value if moved to 2B.
His punishment is going to be over now media get over it cast not the first stone hope he finds a home maybe S.D. Padres
Reyes is the worst player in baseball right now (considering performance and contract)… worse than Billy Butler. And that is… well… very bad.
Going forward, I can see Reyes as a useful second baseman. Anyone else feel the same?