The Mets reunion with Jose Reyes early in the 2016 season started out as dubious on several levels, yet was clearly a low risk / high return move. It turned out to be one of the more pleasant surprises in the Mets’ 2016 season. Aside from the obvious baggage of his domestic violence incident & arrest that Jose continues to carry with him today, he proved that he still can have a positive influence on a MLB squad, and more importantly that he still has something left in the tank as a player. No question, he’s no longer quite the same dynamic burner, hitter and defender that once tormented the National League. But he was still by far the Mets best option as a leadoff hitter, and proved to be a more than capable defender at 3B in place of the injured David Wright - all with the added bonus of costing the Mets the league minimum salary for 2016 & 2017. Cheap talent is awesome for any team, but especially for the Mets in the post-Madoff era.
As the Mets plans for 2017 start to come into focus, it would seem that the infield is fairly set. David Wright, even with his huge health questions, is the incumbent at 3B and seemingly intends on starting the majority of games there. Asdrubal Cabrera has a firm grip on SS after a pleasantly surprising 2016. Neil Walker is back for 1 year after taking the Mets’ $17MM qualifying offer, and finally Luca Duda looks to return to health for a contract year push.
That all seemingly leaves Jose Reyes on the bench as the first backup infielder at 3B, SS and 2B. Sure, the “optimistic” view may be that between health questions about David Wright and the other infielders, there will probably be plenty of opportunity for Reyes (and Wilmer Flores) to play. Still, one the biggest benefits - if not the biggest benefit - that Reyes offers the Mets is his presence in the leadoff spot in the lineup. That’s really not something that a utility infielder can offer. So will Reyes go to waste in his new utility role? Do the Mets pull a Juan Samuel, and try him in their CF hole to get him in the lineup more?
Having watched many cases of the Mets implementing ill-conceived plans, I think this one bears watching.
Having watched many cases of the Mets implementing ill-conceived plans, I think this one bears watching.
10 comments:
I loved the Mets picking up Jose last year, believing sometimes guys can make big mistakes, but if truly repentant, it is 292nd chance time. Great pick up. If he stays healthy, I think the aging Reyes, amazingly entering his 15th year, still will be value-added in 2017, and fun to root for. I'd rest Wright 2 games a week, and Walker and Cabrera a game each, to avoid injury from overuse, and that plus postponing Duda and Flores would give a lot of playing time to Jose and Wilmer under the healthiest of scenarios.
If I was running the Mets I'd have Michael Conforto and Jose Reyes both playing centerfield as much as possible which would enable them to move Granderson more easily than Bruce if there are more potential takers for him. Right now they seem dead set on moving Bruce which leaves Granderson to man CF and both Conforto and Reyes on the bench.
I would put Reyes in Center and lead off everyday.
If they can trade both Bruce and Granderson, I would put Reyes in Centerfield everyday and start Conforto in right field.
If they can only trade one, I would trade Granderson and put Bruce in Right field with Reyes in Center. I would send Conforto and Nimmo down to triple a.
Also sign Ruggiano for 5th outfielder and kelly Johnson for in field for both scenarios.
That's all if we can't sign McCutchen, which is highly unlikely with this damn organization, that won't put in its fair share of local tv money into the team.
You just can not keep signing outfielders unless you get rid of some.
First, build your team around your positives. That would make Cespedes your LEFT fielder.
Second, do everything you can in the off season to move either Granderson or Bruce and shed one or more of their salaries.
Third, negotiate with every team that has a legitimate, time tested, center fielder and try and put a deal together.
And lastly, if you can't get these things done, look for internal options in CF, like a splitting of time between Lagares and Reyes.
It would be nice if we had at least some indication that Reyes can play an adequate CF. My guess is that he probably can, though that's a hell of a risk to head into the season with if you get rid of Granderson. If he can, I'd be happy with a Reyes/Lagares/(Conforto) combo out there. I have a strong suspicion that Grandy is pretty close to done, and expect further regression.
Tom
I very much disagree with the way to handle wright... Have him play every day and HOPE he does break down or figure out that he cannot do it and retire...
First let me say that David was my favorite player since Keith Hernandez... That said I love the Mets (sometimes I ask WHY) and I want this team to win another ring while I can remember it...
And David is standing in the way... His money is an albatross for a team that is SO budget conscience .
We have been able to make it to the playoffs when he got injured and we were able to re-purpose the money we saved from his contract insurance... (IE Cespedes, Reed, Clippard, Salas, Bruce ..though he didn't do much)
I have read several articles about David having earned the right to go out however he wishes... Well I say why... He wasn't Mark Messier... He brought a ring... He isn't even Patrick Ewing (who was a hall of famer)...
He was a very good player who represented himself well... And Often injured... He did his job...
This is professional sports... Probably the most cut throat business... David took the job from Ty Wigginton who didn't do anything wrong except be not as good... Well David has not been good... David cannot throw... That throw in game 5 of the WS probably cost us that game...
His batting line has been awful...
So I say if he going to try to play then run him out there, everyday like he's paid to be... and he either performs and then he can have his story book ending or he cannot and we let the better players play... or he comes to his senses and retires... I have heard so many times that David will have too much pride to go out there and not be the player he believes he is... Well time to prove it...
Adam -
My guess is Reyes still has the speed, but I question the arm at this point in his career.
CF is a young man's position.
Eddie, possibly the best case scenario would be for David Wright to come to spring training and determine he can no longer play, and then retire so the Mets can collect insurance - somehow, I doubt that happens. But I do think he plays less than 80 games and retires during the season. He has to realize he can't do this again to the team, so if the body gives out, he may well bow out.
They won't run him out there every day - the guys "behind him" (Reyes, Flores) are too good to have them feel desperate to overplay him. Wright's problem is with all the stenosis work he has to do each day he plays, supposedly that makes it hard for him to pinch hit when he does not play.
Those are the types of restrictions a losing team can readily accommodate. But a WS contender shouldn't have to try to fit that square peg in a round hole. I bet he retires before 2017 is over.
Tom
Fully expected to get ripped for such blasphemous comments but I don't do rose color glasses... Winning the WS in 2015 Would have made the Wright decision easier as he would have accomplished the goal... Hate to speak badly for him...Has he been a Yankee he would have been Derek...Without the pressures we have placed upon him... Class act
I am with you, Eddie. Everyone has to retire if not cut at some point. I personally don't want to read about his prep for games any longer...you can play, or you can't.
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