Yankees Rumors: Jose Reyes Trade Between Colorado Rockies And New York Yankees Discussed

Yankees rumors indicate a trade for Jose Reyes was discussed with the Colorado Rockies. These New York Yankees trade rumors stem from the 2015 MLB season, shortly after the Rockies acquired Reyes from the Toronto Blue Jays. A report from FOX Sports states that the Yankees inquired about Reyes in order to make him the new starting second baseman in New York.

During the negotiations, the Yankees tried to get the Rockies to pay a “significant portion” of his salary, but it appears that this is where the discussions broke down. The Rockies instead wanted the Yankees to pay most of Reyes’ salary in order to get it off the books. That contract has made it difficult for the Rockies to find additional trading partners.

Jose Reyes still has three years left on his contract and is due $22 million in each of those seasons. For the 2018 MLB season, Reyes has a team option with a $4 million buyout that his new team is likely to put into play. It still means that the Rockies owe him $44 million for the next two years, unless the team can find a buyer during the MLB offseason.

These New York Yankees trade rumors do make a lot of sense considering how the team needed to add offense for the 2015 MLB Playoffs. Having Reyes play second base and possibly bat leadoff could have helped the team get a bit further in the postseason. A deal with the Rockies never got worked out, though, and the Yankees went in a different direction this offseason. In a deal with the Chicago Cubs, the Yankees acquired infielder Starlin Castro to come play second base.

The Yankees’ depth chart for the 2016 MLB season has Mark Teixeira at first base, Starlin Castro at second base, Didi Gregorius at shortstop, and Chase Headley at third base. Alex Rodriguez is still the primary designated hitter, but the team will have to find a way to get Greg Bird into the lineup. The Yankees also have Dustin Ackley, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners, as a backup infielder and outfielder. The three starting outfielders are still set to be Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carlos Beltran.

There have been a number of New York Yankees trade rumors this offseason, but the biggest move had to be a deal with the Cincinnati Reds for Aroldis Chapman. Chapman is now slotted to be the closer for the Yankees, with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances slotted as his main setup guys. That trio at the end of the Yankees’ bullpen could shorten games and make it much easier for the starting rotation to rack up wins. If the three relievers all pitch to their potential, it’s possible they could rival the best bullpens that Major League Baseball has seen.

As the Colorado Rockies continue a huge rebuild, it is possible that Jose Reyes could be traded before the 2016 MLB season begins. In 47 games with the Rockies last year, he finished with a 0.259 batting average, 13 extra base hits, 19 RBIs, 21 runs, and eight stolen bases. He should enter the upcoming season healthy again, but could also face a suspension due to a domestic violence issue.

Most current Yankees rumors indicate that the team is just about done making moves this offseason. General manager Brian Cashman has stated that he is happy with the 40-man roster as it is at this point, and it would take a lot to get him to make a trade now. Any injuries during Spring Training, or as the season draws closer, could quickly make the New York Yankees buyers in an effort to compete in an improved American League East.

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