One can dream, right?
If Tom Seaver could go home again and Lee Mazzilli can come back to win the 1986 World Series, then why can’t the Mets bring back Jose Reyes?
Reyes, who was designated for assignment today, can be had if no one claims him over the next 10 days and he’s fully released. Although, he’s owed about $38 million, that’s the Rockies problem and the Mets – or any team for that matter- can sign the former All-Star for a pro-rated portion of the minimum salary of $507,500.
So with injuries all over the infield and the Mets needing offense, a reunion may make sense.
Heck even Terry Collins fawned over Reyes before today’s game.
“I thought they’d be here a long time,” Collins said of Reyes and David Wright.. “I thought Jose would be here many, many years. I think it’s a tribute to the kind of players this organization looks for. This is a hard game to play. This is a real hard game to play in this city. And when you walk in the clubhouse every day, you see David Wright sitting in the corner with a smile on his face. And then you turn to Jose, and nobody had a bigger smile than him — every day, 0-for-4, 0-for-10, 10-for-10. Same guys. So you need those guys. When we lost Jose, I thought, ‘Boy, this is a major piece gone.’ His energy to play the game, his love to play the game, his love to play the game in New York City, it’s hard to find. It’s hard to find those guys. We missed him.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen down the road. Certainly, I always root for him.”
With Neil Walker getting a MRI on his back today, there could be an opening at second base. But Met sources say no. They are not interested, but things can change. This is a fickle business. Reyes does have diminished skills and the baggage of domestic abuse on his plate, but he also can fill a need at the top of the lineup for the club.
The original plan today was to lead off Juan Lagares, before he was scratched with issues due to his thumb. Collins wanted to see if he could bring a spark at the top.
“I think this is a good challenge for Juan,” Collins said. “He’s played very well lately. Certainly his numbers against left-handed pitching are very good. So we’re hoping that this kind of ignites us a little bit.”
If the Mets signed Reyes, they could slot him into second base and move Walker to third or even move Asdrubal Cabrera to third with Reyes playing shortstop.
Reyes hit .333 in nine games in rehab in Triple-A, so he looks ok, but with diminished range and the hope that he could play another position besides shortstop will probably keep the Mets away.
However, you never know. Ten days is a long time and the way the players are dropping like flies, anything can happen.
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