SATURDAY: The Mets will sign Reyes once he officially becomes a free agent at noon Central time, as various reporters, including ESPN’s Adam Rubin, have noted.
FRIDAY 10:18pm: New York expects to sign Reyes as soon as tomorrow, sources tell MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.
4:08pm: Jose Reyes isn’t yet a free agent, but he’ll formally clear release waivers tomorrow afternoon, and according to David Lennon and Marc Carig of Newsday, all signs point to a reunion with the Mets once his release from the Rockies becomes official. According to the Newsday duo, the Mets haven’t made a final decision, but a deal could come together this weekend. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports hears similar chatter, writing that a reunion between the two sides is “very likely” to come to fruition.
Indeed, manager Terry Collins certainly spoke about Reyes today as if the signing is quite likely, as SNY’s Kerith Burke notes on Twitter. The skipper said that he has not only chatted with the coaching staff about how Reyes could be used, but that those discusses have included the idea of deploying him as an outfielder. (Twitter links via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.) As Newsday noted earlier this week, a move to third base would seem to make the most sense, though New York has also discussed sliding Neil Walker over there and playing Reyes at second base.
The idea has evidently picked up steam in the past week after initially being floated in the media while Reyes was in DFA limbo. The team is said to be intrigued by his speed and history of on-base skills — two traits the roster currently lacks. Reyes currently resides in Long Island and would love to return to the team with which he began his career, per Lennon and Carig.
The Mets have seen their infield depth compromised this season due to neck surgery for David Wright and a stress fracture in Lucas Duda’s back. The team cut bait with one infield option in Spring Training when it released Ruben Tejada, as well, and the current depth chart is much different than New York probably expected coming into the year. Reyes would make reasonable sense as a depth option at either second base or third base — there’s been no mention of shortstop, and defensive metrics/scouts alike have questioned his ability to play shortstop for some time now — and he’ll of course come cheaply. After his release is official, the Mets would be on the hook for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum through season’s end — a total of $277,322. (That money would be subtracted from what the Rockies owe Reyes.)
does Reyes have the arm to play outfield? idk, maybe he’ll be motivated. I always like Reyes passion for game, when he was playing well. seemed like a good teammate, yet I have little tolerance for domestic abuse. that being said we don’t know the details
His arm should be fine. He doesnt throw like he used to but he’s still got plenty of arm strength, which I guess is why 3B is an option rather than forcing him to 2B. The difficulty with OF will be route running and instincts off the bat. Stash him in LF and he should be fine. Of course, his bat doesn’t look nearly as good when he’s a mediocre OF compared to a mediocre 3B.
Reyes would be a great fit for the Mets. The organization is familiar with him as a person, he fills so many holes that they have and he would be cheap.
If he can keep himself free of off the field problems and produce at the level that he did for the Blue Jays in 2014 he would contribute greatly to the team.
Putting him at second is a good spot. Sure his glove still will be below average, but at least he won’t be throwing the ball away as much as he did at short
This would be a terrible move because it assumes Walker will be a competent 3B. Walker plays a very good 2B, which has been such an upgrade over Murphy’s defense. I would trust Cabrera’s abilities more at 3B than I would Walker’s at 3B, as I would trust Reyes’s abilities at SS more than 2B. In reality, Cabrera has played very well at SS. So 3B is the most logical option. Lagares will probably be back by the time he is up here and hopefully Conforto gets it together enough for LF to not be a question.
Reyes should be given an opportunity to prove himself worthy of working on an MLB field again. I won’t say he deserves a second chance, as ‘deserves’ is a relative term and domestic abuse is vile in all regards, but perhaps Reyes has learned a valuable lesson. Returning to the Mets seems a good fit for both sides.
I actually want the Mets to sign Reyes and play him at 2nd. Move Walker to 3rd because I want to see if Walker can handle the hot corner. If he can I would like the Braves make a run at him in the offseason to man 3rd and bat clean up between Freddie and Markakis. Not to many free agent options for 3rd in the off season. You got Plouffe as a trade option and Prado as a free agent but after that pickings seem slim.
How can we make a run at Reyes in offseason, his contract is thru next year. See absolutely no reason for us not to sign him if there would be any intent on going after him in offseason, cheap and hopefully dependable.
He means Walker I think
Oh good call.
This means the Mets can bring back “Speaking Spanish with Jose Reyes” at the ballpark! I’ll never forget how amazing that was when I got to see a couple of games at Shea like 10 years ago now (holy $#&@, 10 years ago?!)
As a side note, I was extremely disappointed when the marlins didn’t bring that here while he was here…but I guess it probably wouldn’t have had the same context lol
He was actually referred to as “Professor Reyes” during those bits. Jose!… Jose! Jose! Jose!…Jose!…Jose!
If the Mets sign Reyes and he breaks his way into the starting line-up and hopefully he does and is given that opportunity, he should play 3B and bat lead off. This would move Granderson to the 2 hole and Cabrera to 6th or 7th (probably 6th when Lagares is in the line up when he gets back and 7th when Conforto is there).
Putting Reyes at 2B is too much of a liability for a number of reasons. One, he has had no sustained success at the position. And though a while ago, though more athletic back than, he wasn’t that great of a 2B. What is to suggest he would be better at 2B than 3B? What ever he gives you there is plenty less than what you’d get from Walker. And who knows what you’re getting from Walker? Who has had back problems nonetheless. If Reyes is cracking this line-up, it will have to be at 3B. If he can’t learn how to competently play it, it means he wouldn’t be competent to play SS either.
Mets should pass on this Dude and sign Will Middlebrooks he’s made E’s all year at 3B and is the hottest hitter in baseball. Look up his #s the last 25 games. #MissleBrooks.
Sorry I meant go after Walker
Yeah sorry. I probably just misunderstood.
I can’t wait for the New York crowd to give the wife beater a standing ovation.
Sports fans cheer for terrible people all the time just because they’re good at sports. That’s not unique to any specific city.
Can the mets have a tampering grievance problem by making contract offers to someone who is not technically a free agent?
There is no tampering his contract is being paid by the Rockies the Mets just cover the league minimum. He will not make anymore money than what his original contract calls for. It basically allows the player to sign with whatever team he wants to go to. If another team would have wanted him they woulda had to claim him and with that claim the whole contract.
This should be collated with the actual signing article, as MLB Trade Rumors form usually shows.
ESPN panders these clicks and writes toward this bias. Do you people just want jobs at ESPN?