9:11pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports has the scoop on the incentives in Reyes’ contract. The veteran will earn an additional $250K after reaching 500 plate appearances during the 2018 season, and an additional $250K for hitting the 550 PA mark.
Jan. 26, 4:07pm: The Mets have announced the signing.
Jan. 25: The Mets have agreed to re-sign infielder Jose Reyes, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). It’s a one-year, $2MM deal that also includes up to $500K in achievable incentives, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets.
While this move may not bring quite the impact Mets fans have been hoping for from an infield signing, it seems the plan is not to utilize Reyes as a regular. Instead, per Rosenthal, the club still hopes to find an everyday choice to line up at second base.
Presumably, then, Reyes will join Wilmer Flores as a roving infield asset. Both players could see time at second and third, while the former may also see action against lefties at first base.
Reyes, a 34-year-old switch-hitter who starred for the Mets earlier in his career, obviously has a strong relationship with the New York organization. After all, the team agreed to bring him back in 2016 after Reyes served a lengthy suspension for an awful domestic abuse incident. He’ll now open his third-straight season (and twelfth overall) with the Mets.
Last year, Reyes ended up seeing quite a lot of action as the Mets dealt with injuries and ultimately traded away several veterans. In 561 plate appearances, he slashed .246/.315/.413 (good for a 94 wRC+) with 15 home runs and 24 steals. It is worth noting, too, that he performed much better in the second half after a rough opening to the season. (Of course, that may mostly be explained by the shifting winds of fortune; Reyes carried a .222 BABIP through 323 plate appearances and .323 thereafter.)
Interestingly, defensive metrics split widely on Reyes’s effort last year, as he split time between short, third, and second. DRS viewed him as markedly subpar infielder, while UZR graded him as a more or less average performer. Accepting the marks of the Defensive Runs Saved system, Reyes was a roughly replacement-level player. Working from Ultimate Zone Rating, on the other hand, and mixing in highly-rated baserunning, led Fangraphs to credit Reyes with 2.0 fWAR in 2017.
Ok as long as he is not a starter now get someone else at second or third and then this is not bad team LGM
Hooray for mediocrity!
Brewers still won’t win the NL Central.
Sorry, accidently put this here instead of the Yelich article.
because every bench guy must be a HOF
How cruel they are. The human being makes mistakes and has the right to rectify.
Worst move in mets history bringing back reyes he was the biggest reason for the collapses of 2007 and 2008 hit 200 during both collapses team lacked focus and urgency he also destroyed the Jays and the 2017 mets Jays get rid of him and go to the alcs 2 years in a row ..
Yup, Reyes took a hammer and scalpel to every SP’s arm, Cespedes’s legs, and Conforto’s shoulder. He totally destroyed the 2017 Mets.
Mets were under 500 before injuries injuries Reyes is a cancer
What’s wrong with this guy?
No team with Reyes can win
At least this satisfies the Reyes zealots for another year.
Are there really Reyes zealots?
Eduardo Nunez makes too much sense
I agree. Can play all over the place if needed, and can bat leadoff. As long as they don’t have to give him too many years…
I agree. Nunez is the way to go. But Reyes, on a 2M deal adds depth + great clubhouse guy + a mentor for Rosario. Good deal. Now Let’s get Nunez as a starter.
Is he going to teach Rosario how to abuse and intimidate women?
Reyes is a cancer the very talented blue jays couldn’t win with Reyes in their locker room then they get rid of him and go to the Alcs 2 years in a row 2017 mets were supposed to be contenders they ended up 22 games under 500. Biggest collapses with reyes in 2007 and 2008.
Really no one else that can play a few spots that’s cheaper, Jesus
no
Nothing wrong with $3M for a utility infielder.
A rare Wilpon move that I don’t hate. Of course those always involve very small money being spent though.
Worst move in mets history bringing back reyes he was the biggest reason for the collapses of 2007 and 2008 hit 200 during both collapses team lacked focus and urgency he also destroyed the Jays and the 2017 mets Jays get rid of him and go to the alcs 2 years in a row .
Man I was really hoping to recruit this guy for my slowpitch team. Thought surely he was finished. Bummer.
A guy who hits 15 homers and steals 24 bags and plays all over the infield?? Yeah dude he was ready for your beer league softball team
no no no not that guy..i meant the guy that has a combined rWAR of -5 the past 3 seasons… surely he’s ready for some beer league action.
And hit 246 and is awful defensively and is the Worst move in mets history bringing back reyes he was the biggest reason for the collapses of 2007 and 2008 hit 200 during both collapses team lacked focus and urgency he also destroyed the Jays and the 2017 mets Jays get rid of him and go to the alcs 2 years in a row ..
Don’t feed the troll, don’t feed the troll
How about you post it just one more time! We didn’t get the point the first three times!
Hit up Dan Uggla
As a utility guy not bad. Now bring in Lucroy and one of Nunez/Frazier.
Lucroy won’t happen. And I wouldn’t either unlesa he is desperate enough to accept a one year make good contract (which I doubt he will and in if he was why go to the Mets)
You’re probably right, not even sure Lucroy is on their radar. However, there seems to be no market for Lucroy so it’s possible he takes a lesser offer. And as for why the Mets, as a catcher you could do a lot worse than Syndergaard and deGrom.
Lmao wut
Ryan Goins was signed for a million,twice the player,,,Jose @ 3 is a joke
Goins is horrible. Really not understanding your love for him, he’s barely a major-league player. Reyes is bad too, but he’s better than Goins is
the very talented blue jays couldn’t win with Reyes in their locker room then they get rid of him and go to the Alcs 2 years in a row 2017 mets were supposed to be contenders they ended up 22 games under 500. Biggest collapses with reyes in 2007 and 2008.
Ahh! There it is! Thanks!
ahahahahaahah. Goins twice the player. Career 228/275/356? His glove is the only thing keeping him from selling cars right now.
Good signing, he is a good Met veteran. Looks to me like the Mets will sign one more player and wait and see how healthy their pitching is during the season. If all systems are go they will add at the deadline. Not a bad idea. I think they have a good chance at a wild card being in the weakest division in baseball.
Him and A-Gon would be a good deal if it were 10years ago. Wake up Mets, you are in NY still. Spend a few dollars for your fans on some players in their prime now. The Yankees used to stack up washed up stars but at least they overpaid them all.
After a horrid first three months – Reyes hit .289/.357/.466 in the 2nd half. That’s elite production, even for half a year.
Not a bad signing, I think they overpaid considering I’m sure no one else other then the mets would have taken him.
Terrible signing the very talented blue jays couldn’t win with Reyes in their locker room then they get rid of him and go to the Alcs 2 years in a row 2017 mets were supposed to be contenders they ended up 22 games under 500. Biggest collapses with reyes in 2007 and 2008.
The hits just keep coming!
And you told me the Wilpons don’t spend. Not only do they spend, but they overpay!
Live 4 hours from citi field and I made it to two games…First game was a loss to the Padres in which the opposing pitcher beat out a routine ground ball to Reyes. The second was a beating by the Dodgers. My lasting impression was of in about the last few innings Reyes joking around the infield in the middle of a smack down. Left a sour taste.
So Reyes has some fun? Why you so pissy bout it?
Winning is fun. Losing is like….syphilis.
the very talented blue jays couldn’t win with Reyes in their locker room then they get rid of him and go to the Alcs 2 years in a row 2017 mets were supposed to be contenders they ended up 22 games under 500. Biggest collapses with reyes in 2007 and 2008
Encore! Encore!
Reyes has gotta be the worst SS to play in the last 4 yrs. watched him skip throws in the dirt all of 2013 and 2014.
Solid signing by the Mets and Reyes wanted to stay too. The Mets are gonna be a good team this year and with the Phillies adding on the Nationals might regret firing Baker.
Another cheap bandaid. He’s on the downside and is sliding fast—just not to second base. He has become a defensive liability and can be a cancer in the clubhouse.
However on a bright note, he fulfills mutt and Jeff’s number one criteria/ CHEAP
Wow…that’s some Orioles type stuff right there. Good luck with that
reyes signed a huge contract with the marlins. NEVER lived up to any of it. and people wonder why the free agent market is slow.
Quite true, but the same year they signed him was the same year they dismantled the team as the Marlins as you know tend to do.
Was hoping SD would sign him as a veteran back up infielder
Let me preface this by saying that I’m not your stereotypical Mets fan who complains about everything the team does.
That said, I am not happy about the fact that they have once again made the decision to sign a man who put his hand around his wife’s throat and shoved her into a glass door.
Omar Minaya is back!
In the words of Napoleon, “Never interrupt your enemies when they’re making mistakes”, however I just need to make a remark here:
The Mets claimed that they were short on money for the 2017-18 offseason with holes to fill at second base, first base, center field and the rotation and then proceed to spend $53,000,000 on Jay Bruce (corner outfield, when they already had Yo and Nimmo) and Swarzak (relief when they already had Ramos, Familia and Blevins).
While the Adrian Gonzalez signing was very shrewd, this is just bad. It’s hard to really have any issue with a $2,000,000 transaction, however based on the circumstances, I believe that better options have been acquired by other teams for less money regarding infielders
Jay Bruce was $39 mill, not 53. Still a waste of money, though.
I was adding his and Swarzak’s salaries
Ah I see now, misread!
I was hoping the Yanks would sign him. Perfect kind of vet that would fit the Yanks needs. Can play 2b, SS and 3B. Has some speed left in him and if he embraced the role, could’ve been a good mentor to Torres and Andujar.
Reyes could teach them how to handle their women.
It’s nothing to laugh at dude. -A. Chapman.
disgraceful. He belongs in prison, not on a baseball field.
In his defense, his wife refused to press charges. I don’t remember if there was any physical evidence made public so I wont go as far as to say it was a “he said she said” but I think he deserves the benefit of a doubt since charges were dropped.
“On the final day of October, Jose Reyes allegedly grabbed his wife, Katherine Ramirez, by the throat in their Hawaii hotel room and shoved her into a sliding door. The incident left Ramirez, according to a police report, with injuries to her neck, the side of her body and her wrist.”
google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/86698770
The article said she dropped the case after she decided she was in the wrong and deserved what she got. How much was paid to drop case?
probably got Clinton Foundation money
She didn’t get Madoff money. Bonilla in line for that.
come on man… we all know she dropped that case because she got payed to.
Rockies fans will be pleased to know that they’re only paying $4 million for Reyes this year, not $22 million.
I really DISLIKE this move. With Gonzalez or Smith at 1B, Flores as backup, Rosario at SS, Cabrera at 3B, and Reynolds & Cecchini as AAA depth before TJ Rivera is ready in June, they really don’t need another backup IF (even before getting into the question of Reyes’ assault on his wife, and why he’s the only person other than Donald Trump to escape punishment…).
This very much smells to me like the Mets are planning to stop improving the IF, play Flores at 2B, and let Rosario suffer by being the only decent IF glove. In addition to Moustakas, Frazier, Walker or Nunez, it would have made more sense to try Brandon Phillips for this role. I know Rosario loves Reyes, but…
Mets just locked up the World Series!!! Lol.
is there a club where all the commenters who post stuff like this meet..?
Yes but there is a requirement for a sense of humor so you do not qualify.
What more do Mets fans want? You are getting the same team, Jay Bruce and all, in 2018 that you got in 2017. Neil walker will be back on a two year deal by this time next week. The only difference will be this year the Mets are going to keep their fingers crossed.
I hope they bring back Walker.
And 377194, when Adrian Gonzales goes on the DL and then retires, Cracker Jack Sandy has a plan B in place.
He has Ed Kranepool’s commitment to make a comeback. As a top Mets’ all time homerun hitter, Krane has Cespedes’ type power AND the defensive prowess of Mo Vaughn.
With John Franco in the wings and working out in Port St. Lucie, the bullpen will be stronger than ever. Rumors are swirling that Tom Seaver has been stretching his arm out.
All of this activity by the best GM in baseball (who works in Queens) and Sandy has kept everyone to major league minimum salary, so that Mutt and Jeff can soak fans for all their money worth.
OK, so it’s official. We’re going into the season with essentially the exact same team (except no Duda, no Walker, & Conforto injured). Should work out fine. I mean, last went well, right??
*last year
Of course! I’m sure they’ll sign Walker and bring Duda back on a minor league deal. The represents a major cost savings since they’ll be able to take all the leftover 2017 programs and overwrite 2018 on them with a sharpie. Oh, and charge a dollar more. That’s operating shrewdly.
The Giants and Mets are assemblying all-star rosters… in 2012.
Cant complain about this…monster 2nd half after a putrid 1st half…so hopefully he keeps that momentum…jose is a perfect fit as a versatile infield option…still has some speed…not the defender hr once was..but still serviceable…basically is the only leadoff hitter currently on the roster…but he wont be playing everyday anyway
Now…options are Frazier for 3rd
(2yr/$20mil)
Nunez (same contract due to versatility and speed..which this team sorely lacks)
Walker(2yr/$24mil)
Maybe Brewers strike and sign Moose and trade 3b Shaw…
Say Cecchini and David Thompson for Shaw
I do not want Moose…one breakout year..will cost too much and wouldnt handle NY imo..
Still have some work to do with the roster…lets se what happens
Here’s a dose of reality, dematteo:
Your ideas are great except they cost $&.
Mutt and Jeff spend a little to lure you into buying tickets.
Don’t let them soak you. Every buck goes into their pockets personally.
Don’t buy tickets, nor Mets gear AND do NOT watch SNY and force the Coupon family to sell the team.
STOP enabling them.
No dose of reality needed…trust me…i know the Wilpons got short arms and deep pockets…
These ideas are just…. imo…. moves they should try to make…considering the comments the youngest “coupon” made about wanting to win…blah blah blah
Let it go Mets…geez….this is dead weight and a waste of space.
For a moment I saw “David Wright” instead of “dead weight.” But it might not make a difference.
Yeah, he won’t be playing every day, until he is.
Sometimes not good to have these guys on the roster because the organization will have to much loyalty to them, and they get too many AB’s.
It’s like the Met fans are looking under their Christmas tree for a present, but instead hat present is just the needles off the tree.
$2 million? Thought league minimum would suffice.
Bunch of haters here the guy is still productive can still hit and play the field and it’s only a 1 year deal
“Presumably, then, Reyes will join Wilmer Flores as a roving infield asset. Both players could see time at second and third, while the former may also see action against lefties at first base.”
If one of those players is used as a 1B vs. LH pitching it’s much more likely to be Flores. Worth noting that Flores has already played more than fifty games at 1B while the next time Reyes plays 1B will be the first time.
Problem is how can you imply through incentives any willingness to put a -0.6 WAR player up to the plate 500+ times and expect to compete? Reyes should be relegated to Matt Reynolds replacement. Let’s look at the Mets shopping list this offseason based on what we lost to free agency after the end of last season:
Relief Pitcher Who Pitchef One Season as a Quality Pitcher in Eight years (because that worked so well with Antonio Bastardo and Fernando Salas): Check
3rd Starting Right Fielder: Check
Mediocre 1st baseman with back problems: Check
Jose Reyes: Check
Thank goodness, Wright is still under contract or we may have seen them go after Prince Fielder.
Reyes could be a serial rapist. If he’s willing to sign for less, he’s the Wilpons’ kind of guy.
Leave it to the Mets to make moves that don’t make sense. The guy is done! He hasn’t be competitive in I’m counting close to 5 years, he had maybe one decent year in Toronto. That’s basically it. Can’t stay healthy either. I know it’s “only”2mil. But that 2 mil could have been spent on something like bobby Bonilla.