A Reyes Reunion? What Say Ye?
The proverbial ink wasn’t dry on the news of the Tulo to Toronto deal, when the speculation began: will the Rockies spin Jose Reyes off to the Mets? Less than one week ago, before aliens apparently abducted our GM, I would have said “never.” Now, on the heels of Friday’s deal and then again last night, plus the whole Andrelton Simmons story, I am not sure what to think anymore.
So, lets take a look at our erstwhile leadoff guy, Mr. Reyes. He is currently slashing 285/322/385 for the Jays (he has yet to play for Colorado). His health has been OK, he has appeared in 69 of Toronto’s 99 games. FWIW, he played in 143 games for them last year. His stolen bases are way down, 16 this year, so reaching even 30 might be a stretch. He turned 32 last month.
His contract is probably the biggest concern. He’s owed $44 million, plus the remainder of this year’s salary, thanks to the boneheaded Marlins. BTW, I dislike all of our division rivals, but I really despise the Marlins, however that’s another post. There is a $4 million buyout in 2018, which by then Jose will be 35.
As has been frequently pointed out by myself and many others, the Mets haven’t had a bona fide leadoff hitter since Jose left. But is he the answer? I really can’t see Colorado keeping him. Who else might be interested? The Yankees? The Giants? Pittsburgh? Again, at least until last weekend, these three and several others where probably more likely to pull off a trade like this. Would Colorado swallow say half of Jose’s remaining salary for a package of say Michael Fulmer, Brandon Nimmo, Wilmer Flores and Domonic Smith? They go from paying nearly $100 million for a shortstop, down to $22 million (easy enough to spend someone else’s money!) and get a load of Mets and Blue Jays prospects. That might work for them, but do Alderson and the Wilpons cash in their chips on a risk-filled move like this?
Maybe it’s that the last few years have worn me out, but I just don’t see it happening. But, I certainly didn’t see Friday’s trade coming and I was surprised they gave up what they did for Clippard. So I guess anything is possible. Sorry for burying the lead at the end of the post, but what do you think? Should the Mets bring Jose Reyes back? What should they be willing to give up? Sound off below.
I am happy with the moves the Mets have made. Cuddyer’s injury was fortuitous, and I really like the change in chemistry these 3 seasoned vets give the team.
Add TDA back in the lineup, and I gotta believe we have a chance. Just look at our schedule and you realize anything is possible.
D Wright limps to the plate in October a la Kirk . . . . .
Was it really a mistake by Sandy not to re-sign him? First year in Florida and Toronto, yah, he was a good player, only made 10 million per and very productive. 2014-2015, you get the player with the aforementioned numbers who is now making 22 million a year until 2017. So yeah, Sandy, why didn’t you resign Reyes? It was clearly a mistake. We obviously needed another player like Wright. One player making 20+ million who can’t stay on the field clearly isn’t enough. 2 of them will make the Mets halfway toward being the Phillies as far as paying the most useless contracts in baseball. You’re right, Sandy made a bogey.
The Mets got a compensatory pick and used it to draft Plawecki so it wasn’t a complete loss.
The plan was Tejada at short after his good 2011 season. Just because that didn’t work out doesn’t mean there was no plan.
Waiting five years for Plawecki (and Reynolds?) is a bad trade.
Replacing Reyes with Tejada didn’t work out because it was a bad idea from the start. His minor league career showed no signs of him being a solid starter. Five years later the Mets still haven’t shown a plan to replace Reyes (no, I don’t see Flores or Reynolds as being anything other then hoping for the best)
Well, Reyes left in 2011, Plawecki was picked in 2012, not exactly 5 years yet. But either way, I’m not exactly sure why timing has anything to do with value. Reyes could have been traded for A level players with high ceiling 2-4 years away or traded for more major league ready players. Either way it’s value coming back. There was value in receiving a compensatory pick from a class A free agent.
If you saw that Ruben Tejada wasn’t going to pan out or that Flores wouldn’t either back in 2011, then you should deserve credit for that. Plans to replace a departing free agent when a owner shuts down the funds typically involve developing players internally. It takes time and the players may not work out, but the plans were there,
In addition, there were plenty on this website who didn’t like Tejada or Flores as a starting shortstop. Even after Tejada’s best year (2011), many on this website didn’t see him as a long term solution.
But I absolutely agree with you when you blame the owner. I blame them for not trading Reyes during 2010 to sell tickets and I blame them for not providing payroll to replace him. When you budget for two thirds of a team, you get two thirds.
BTW, a) five years to rebuild? No, that wasn’t a “rebuild,” it was PR spin to cover the Wilpons’ desire to remain moguls despite not having the financial wherewithal to support a MLB franchise; b) why does a big-market team have to lose at the MLB level while it “rebuilds” the farm system? I’ve yet to hear a plausible reason.
Regarding the Met need for a leadoff hitter, that is somewhat of a myth. Curtis Granderon has done a fine job, ony hurt by his ineptitude vs. LHP. So, they have a leadoff hitter vs. RHP that gets on base at a .385 clip. The need is for a ledoff hitter vs LHP. Interestingly, Ryes has only a .275 OBP vs LHP this season.
2. I think he just played his first game at ss in a month due to an elbow strain.
3. inside track as in fast track? If so,Cecchini just hasn’t had the success in the minors to merit this. He’s having it this year, but because this is the first year tasting success, I wouldn’t rush him.