Jose Reyes To Mets: Former All-Star Reyes Re-Signs With New York Mets
Jose Reyes is back with the New York Mets. Reyes, a former All-Star shortstop, re-signed with the Mets on Saturday, June 25. A report from ESPN confirms the signing, stating that he is reuniting with his first MLB team. The struggling offense in New York has led to this signing, with the franchise getting a bit desperate to improve the batting order. It was also a very inexpensive acquisition, with very little risk for the Mets to take the chance on him.
Jose Reyes played nine seasons with the New York Mets before signing with the Miami Marlins in free agency during the 2012 MLB offseason. During that time in New York, Reyes hit 0.292 with 402 extra base hits and 370 stolen bases along the way. He had trouble staying healthy in his final three seasons with the Mets, leading to the team letting him hit free agency. The Miami Marlins would eventually trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays and then the Blue Jays traded him to the Colorado Rockies.
As a report by CBS Sports outlined, Reyes had been suspended for 51 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy. It was a public relations problem for the Colorado Rockies after Reyes got charged with physically assaulting his wife shortly after the team traded for him. Immediately, there were a lot of MLB rumors about what the team would do with Reyes once he was finished with his suspension.
Initially, the Rockies designed Jose Reyes for assignment, giving the team 10 days to trade, release, or assign Reyes to the minor leagues. No trade emerged during those 10 days, and Reyes was reportedly going to deny an assignment to the minor leagues, as veterans are allowed to do that. The Rockies them requested his outright release, making him a free agent who could sign with any other MLB team. It also means the Rockies are the hook for a majority of the remaining salary on his contract.
Under his contract, Reyes was set to make $22 million in 2016 and 2017, with a $22 million team option for the 2018 MLB season that came with a $4 million buyout. The New York Mets are expected to pay Reyes the league minimum, leaving the Rockies on the hook for a large majority of the contract. That’s a huge amount of money for the team to simply get rid of Reyes, but it’s what the front office decided was in the best interest of the franchise. It didn’t hurt that rookie shortstop Trevor Story has also been impressive in his first season.
During his time with the New York Mets, Jose Reyes made the All-Star team four times. His best year was likely the 2006 MLB season, where he hit 0.300 with 64 stolen bases, scored 122 runs, and hit 30 doubles, 17 triples, and 19 home runs. Known for his speed on the base paths, Reyes already has 479 career stolen bases and 117 triples. He could see time at second base, shortstop, and even in the outfield or at first base with the Mets this time around. The acquisition was to get his bat into the starting lineup.
In the updated MLB standings from June 25, the New York Mets are second place in the National League Eat at 39-33. The Mets trail the Washington Nationals by three games for first place in the division, possibly making this a key signing for the team. The Mets also hold the second NL wild card by one game over the St. Louis Cardinals (38-34) and Miami Marlins (39-35) showing how competitive the race could be this year. Once the signing becomes approved by Major League Baseball, Jose Reyes will immediately be available to play, possibly as early as Saturday’s game.
[Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images]
