The Mets have selected the contract of recently acquired infielder Eddy Alvarez from Triple-A Syracuse and designated fellow infielder Pablo Reyes for assignment in order to open space on the active roster and 40-man roster, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. Alvarez was acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for cash earlier today.
Like Alvarez, Reyes was also acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for cash — although that swap took place back in May. The Mets selected him to the big league roster earlier this month when rosters expanded to 28 players. Reyes did not make a plate appearance with the Mets but did score a run after entering their Sept. 1 game as a pinch runner. He hit .183/.234/.217 in 64 plate appearances with Boston earlier this season.
The 31-year-old Reyes gave the Red Sox nearly league-average offense last season — .287/.339/.377 in 185 plate appearances — but has generally been a light-hitting utilityman in a big league career that’s now spanned four teams (Pirates, Brewers, Red Sox, Mets) across parts of six seasons. In 572 plate appearances at the MLB level, Reyes is a .248/.309/.349 hitter. He’s spent time at every defensive position other than catcher — pitcher included — but has primarily been a second baseman/shortstop/third baseman.
A career .277/.347/.450 hitter in parts of six Triple-A seasons, Reyes has a solid minor league track record but has never found extended success in the majors. He’s out of minor league options and thus can’t be sent down without clearing waivers first, and even then he’d have the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency by virtue of the fact that he’s been outrighted previously in his career. He’ll head to waivers now that he’s been DFA and will likely clear, as he did back in May when Boston also designated him for assignment.
This makes no sense to me; already had some depth. He is not post season eligible doesn’t bring a lot to what they already had
This is the 28th man – Nobody they use in this spot brings a lot to what they had. But if you need a reason… maybe a a lefty bat to replace a right-hander?
I don’t understand this. I believe Reyes is the better player. and younger. Can someone infore me what was the reason ?
I probably agree with you.
Maybe it’s like an 82 rating vs an 80 rating. (Very close) Situational need..
Probably they prefer a lefty bat and he has more potential power.
This what the POBO does – he makes judgements and has the final say given the rocemmendation of in person scouts, analytical statistics etc.
They probably hope no one claims Reyes but they take that chance.
A very short term decision to try to grab 1 WildCard spot in a very competitive bunch
@ metvibes I don’t understand this hair-splitting.. they’re both total scrubs and the notion that it will make any difference is at best a stretch.
@geofft Because hair-splitting is precisely what a FO does—all year long.
Day in, day out, a FO looks for small edges in a sport where the accumulation hundreds and hundreds of small edges over a season makes the difference between 88-74 and 87-75 (if not something like 84-78), between making and missing the postseason.
Can you boot any one of these to the curb? Sure, but why would you?
It’s like a card counter in a casino (which is incredibly boring, btw) who’s constantly turning 1-2% edges his way instead of in the casino’s direction, where over the course of a year it’s the difference between making a living and going home broke.
I’m guessing the Mets wanted a multi-sport Olympic medalist (silvers in 2014 as a short-track speed skater and 2020 (played in 2021) as a baseball player). If Reyes clears, I’d think he’d accept the assignment, because the Mets are the only team where he’d have postseason eligibility if needed. Eddy Alvarez would not have that eligibility but he serves a similar purpose to Reyes – speed on the bases if needed as a pinch runner.
Let’s put these pieces together…..
The Mets bothered to replace Reyes with a non-playoff eligible player in the first place. They knew it would mean exposing Reyes to a possible departure, but they did it anyway. Reyes was only on the team because of the expanded September roster anyway.
The idea that post-season eligibility is any kind of factor here is a pretty massive stretch.
it actually does for the mets. look at all the depth they had for the infield. They are all done for the year. If you lose Iglesias or even Vientos at this point who are you playing?
Stewart we know it not really a good fielder and at best about league average hitter but hasnt been this year. .
Acuna has been better than that atrocious start but its his first major league shot and im sure will feel pressure after the trade and because of RAJ while trying to contribute to a playoff run.
Brosseau / Sanchez i guess could be an option but you have no bat and were average if not worse fielding if i remember right.
Ritter? the catcher im sure gets enough breeze if not just give him a clip on fan and give the pitcher a strike out save some time.
You say that as if it makes a difference. They’re all scrubs, none of whom can be expected to produce. And that includes Reyes. If the Mets lose Vientos, it won’t matter who they call up. The offensive drop off would be huge.
Who the Mets would use or not use will boil down to secondary, and even tertiary factors.
Iglesias has not been hitting at all these past 5 weeks, anyway. If he goes down, Sanchez seems like the closest comp. He is an excellent defender, who also runs the bases well even though he’s not a base-stealer, per se. As an added bonus, he’s also played a lot of OF (including CF) this year.
fyi games are lost with bad fielding too otherwise you could stick JDM at every position where iglesias has been an above average fielder and how many games has he saved with his glove.
He has never been a big power hitter but he has maintained a high average this season while playing multiple positions and getting on base. So far for september every game Iglesias has had at bats he has had a hit and rarely strikes out. Am i saying he is an all star no but he has been solid for the role player he is and has been clutch as well.
If anything Reyes best fits the mold of an Iglesias type player. and would have been playoff eligible and while not as good a hitter this year did have a pretty good one last year in a tough division and doesnt strike out much. He would have been the one i would have kept over everyone else as he has shown capability of being major leaguer with some success even as recent as last season and could potentially keep things rolling.
Sanchez is barely batting 200 in AAA and if i recall not a great fielder so probably would be the 2nd to last to be called up. of any of those names. The only good thing was he “could” play most positions and is lefty bat another stewart type. I would rather bring up stewart than him though.
You’re getting off point. Again, if Iglesias or Vientos goes down, none of these guys – including Reyes – would be an adequate replacement. The Mets would be playing with a hole in the lineup, regardless of who comes in. Again, including Reyes.
For the record, Sanchez is an excellent defensive player. Not the wizard that Iglesias is, but very good, nonetheless. But you’re right – Sanchez has zero bat.
Looks like he spent a little time in MIL last year, so I would guess Sterns knows him, and if he is faster than Reyes, then I would prefer him.