The Mets have had internal discussions about cutting ties with veteran infielder Jose Reyes, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post (via Twitter). With some upcoming roster decisions as players return to health, there could soon be added pressure to do just that.
Certainly, Reyes has done little on the field this year to stave off such a move. He’s slashing a meager .141/.208/.197, with just two extra-base hits through 71 plate appearances. While Statcast paints a slightly more promising picture — Reyes carries a .187 wOBA that’s well shy of his .250 xwOBA — the struggles can hardly be attributed solely to batted-ball misfortune.
While he brings defensive flexibility, Reyes hasn’t graded particularly well with the glove. Likewise, despite grading as a premium baserunner last year, he’s sitting at average in that regard so far in 2018. Just days away from his 35th birthday, Reyes has produced more negative value (-0.9 fWAR) than all but four other position players in the game.
Despite those less-than-promising numbers, Puma reports that there’s some hesitation from the Mets organization. Citing Reyes’s “roots” with the club, Puma says there’s a belief that he deserves a “proper sendoff.” That’s understandable, on the one hand, given that this is his 12th campaign with the club. That said, the circumstances under which Reyes came back to Queens — the Mets took him in when he was released by the Rockies after serving a domestic violence suspension — do not really speak in favor of any kind of preferential treatment.
Beyond off-the-field considerations, it’ll be tough for the Mets to hang onto Reyes given what he has shown thus far, despite the fact that he was a useful contributor over the prior two campaigns. As Tim Britton wrote today for The Athletic (subscription link), there’s a sense that the team is “teetering on the brink of another long, irrelevant summer” after it took a fifth-straight loss. While GM Sandy Alderson insists that he’s still optimistic and isn’t weighing a summer sell-off, climbing back into the postseason picture will obviously require the team to field a healthy and productive mix of players.
The Reyes question isn’t pressing just yet, but could be in the near-term. The team is carrying a five-man bench at present, with a roster that includes three catchers, four starters, and eight relievers. Upheaval is imminent, with Noah Syndergaard, Yoenis Cespedes, and Wilmer Flores currently rehabbing and perhaps not too far off from returns. With a wide variety of considerations in play, it’ll certainly be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Paging MR Sherman…
Don’t do it
Jose is way past his prime but he was really good at one point
So was aol.com
Preparing for Han Ram?
Don’t be a moron
Lol
Considered? His OPS+ is 15. What are they waiting for
Mad Dog had an hilarious take on the Mets today, must see.
In other news-the sky is blue
Well, it’s covered in gray at this point in José Reyes’s career.
just like the New York skies today.. how fitting
Proper send off? Like the one they gave Terry Collins who has the second most wins in team history last year? Give me a break.
I agree with you.
I also agree with you. It’s very unpopular to admit this but I miss Terry Collins.
I’m sure we’re fine with Mickey.
I believe we will make the postseason.
But Terry should not have been dismissed as Manager.
If anybody should have been released,Sandy should have been let go unless it’s not his fault for not signing veteran depth and making shrewd acquisitions.
Make the postseason in what season? Certainly not this one lol
“I believe we will make the postseason” Living in denial is not healthy bro.
Sandy needs to stop hiring awful ex-GMs like Ricciardi and DePodesta and surround himself with real baseball people.
He has a real Cracker Jack baseball person in the front office now. The infamous “TC” is in the cubicle near the water cooler.
That was still a better send off than the one given to team semi-icon, Wally Backman
Perhaps if Wally wasn’t sooo outspoken.
That’s fair …but can you blame him?
The Mets are a dumb organization
Dumb AND lacking any dignity. It’s history is rich of soap opera style stories, one more unbelievable than the next. Yet they are all true and any fan who supports the team with ticket purchases, SNY viewership or licensed merchandise should check themselves into a rehab facility.
Just like the proper send off when they dumped his contract before.
Those should be reserved for hall of fame types who have announced their retirements
Not for players you’ve already jettisoned once when they were much better.
They didn’t dump his contract, he left as a free agent.
The Mets don’t have many legendary players so they have to take care of the really good ones. Reyes was really good at one point and is a fan favorite. So who cares if they keep him or not. It won’t matter
My apologies I thought he was involved in a trade to marlins. Forgot it was due to major contract during one of the Marlins why don’t we try years that was dumped by them
That being said players leave teams all the time. If Reyes isn’t blocking anyone or the Mets going no where sure keep him but he is and they are still trying.
Father Time comes for all. You can’t allow your team to be handcuffed by a player who is done but won’t admit it
Do you even watch baseball?
Says the guy who thinks the Mets are going to the post-season this year! LoL
Well Ernest we know that you DONT watch baseball given the team that you watch. Lol
Dan Duquette and the Orioles are licking their chops, waiting for the opportunity to sign him. He has a “track record”.
Oh, wait, never mind. I just checked. He doesn’t strike out enough.
“He has a ‘track record”.’
That’s what she said.
Here’s the thing- is there someone else who is a substantial upgrade as 25th man? If so, then cut him, but given the presence of the third catcher and Luis Guillorme on the roster I don’t see it.
Teams usually shuffle their feet and justify poor performances in some fashion when asked about their albatross players because they just can’t bring themselves to eat a big contract. That’s not the case here. Reyes has been unproductive in every way this year, and he’s only owed the balance of his $2M contract. Do the fans and organization really owe him that much of a debt of gratitude to keep him on the roster?
This inexplicable situation coupled with Alderson’s recent “big picture” comments portray the Mets as a team comfortable with mediocrity. Organizations with a focus on winning don’t agonize over such matters. Makes me wonder about the inevitable sleepless nights and gut-wrenching decision NYM will ultimately face when it’s obvious to 99.9% of us that José Bautista needs to be cut loose.
“batted-ball misfortune.”
That’s pretty funny, actually.
Wow. I’m watching the Orioles-Mets game on TV now… If body language means anything, it sure looks like the Mets are pretty much screaming, “Get us out of here…”
Call up that phenom Tebow now!
how is he still even on the team?
So what’s the excuse for not releasing Adrian Gonzalez? He has no Mets history at all.
The pattern I see here which applies to Gonzalez, Reyes, and Bautista is that ownership really likes veterans getting paid league minimum or close to it regardless of performance. How can any team with those stars of yesteryear taking up roster space expect to remain competitive?
601: the ownership encourages the incompetent management to sign players to perpetuate the charade that the team will be competitive.
The reality is that the team, which is in the largest market operates with a shoe string budget; and is managed by over the hill incompetents.
This weekend ALL Mets fans should NOT enter the stadium until the 3rd inning.
Embarrass the Wilpon’s by allowing the Yankee fans to have run of the place for the first two innings.
Face it—the Mets are going to be clobbered. Mickey should research the Mlb rule book to see if he can invoke the mercy rule when an inning does not appear to be ending.
David Wright: “Jose, what did I tell you about getting healthy?”
Nice summary Steve. Unfortunately his production has been so little that HE should be going to the team suggesting a Mark Texiera type mutual sendoff.
Hit the restart button. Fire Alderson. Fire Mickey unless he is okay with overseeing a losing team for a while. Deal DeGrom, Syndergaard, and anyone else with value and rebuild the system.
Jose Reyes was an outstanding talent with a 5 cent head. He could hit, run, fielded pretty well in his prime. We can blame injuries, but anyone who ever watched him play knows how he’d have serious mental blunders you’d sort out by Little League. A couple injuries were caused by mental mistakes on the field.
When he was going right he could be a gamebreaker. He could have been marching to Cooperstown right now with his talent.
Hey Tim-how many seasons in his prime years did Jose waste hanging out in Florida on the DL?
well might as well release everyone who has to hit… last 6 games 4 vs cubs 2 vs baltimore 7 runs 28 hits…. lets go deeper for the year 27 in runs scored .. 28 in home runs 27 in batting average. yea i know batting average dont count but it dose….
If Hanley Ramirez is released after batting over 230, Mets should release Reyes. Then again they are the mets so eating the major league minimum salary might be tough.
He’s making $2m, not league minimum.
3 easy moves:
Lobaton DFA’d; re-sign him to AAA if unclaimed.
Reyes – retirement. (Cut him if he won’t)
Robles – option to AAA
With Thor, Ces and Wilmer back, and Reyes’ spot on the 40 available, they’ll have a spot for TJ Rivera when his rehab ends in July…
Dumpster Fire…
These players are real pretenders.
Stop using their nicknames. You are perpetuating the myth that they are liked and appreciated.
I think they just don’t like the lines he shaves into his right eyebrow.
Dump his ass. Hitting under .200 & below average in the field is not helping. Groom his replacement or trade for one.