New York Mets ‘still’ waiting on Jose Reyes – MLB Update
While the New York Mets are still waiting for other teams to set the market for Jose Reyes, the Florida Marlins have gone a step ahead in luring the All-Star shortstop to their ballclub and impressing him with an outing at Joe’s Stone Crab.
Although the Marlins, soon-to-be Miami Marlins, have not offered a contract to Reyes, it seems quite evident that the management is interested in landing the 2011 batting champion to the franchise before the next season.
The New York Mets did not react to this meeting and asserted that this is what the management wanted. However, a move to a rival team is not what the ballclub or for that matter the fans will like. The Marlins failed miserably in this past season and are
thus going the extra mile to attract star players to the ballclub in a bid to produce better results next season.
Reyes is looking for a long-term lucrative contract and the Marlins are in a position to cater that. Even if the Marlins do not offer a long-term contract, they can off-set the time period by adding extra monetary incentive. A three-year 60 to 65-million-dollar
contract will be enough to attract Reyes, but a six-year deal might seem more appropriate for the 28-year-old All-Star.
It is now becoming more evident that Reyes will no longer be a part of Mets, the only ballclub that he has ever known. An outbound Reyes might be a blessing for the Mets as far as the payroll is concerned. Already looking to slash the payroll for 2012, this
move will help the management to save on the extra bucks.
One issue that needs to be solved before any deal is finalised is Hanley Ramirez’s position in the Marlins. Ramirez currently plays at shortstop and has at least three more years on his contract. If the deal materialises, Ramirez is likely to move to out-field,
making way for Reyes at shortstop. However, nothing is certain yet and manager Ozzie Guillen will have the final say once the roster shapes-up.
Reyes has not shown concern of signing with a team that has not been able to make it through to the playoffs and thus talks of him preferring a powerhouse ahead of any other team are baseless.
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