On the field of the New York Mets, there are ghosts that are roaming around. They are appearing in the clubhouse, in the dugout, and the scariest thing is that they are appearing on the field in New York Mets uniforms. They are the ghosts of players we used to admire, players who use to be a joy to watch. They are Jose Reyes and Matt Harvey. At their peaks, Harvey and Reyes were main attractions on Mets teams that didn’t have much to offer their fan bases. Their top performances came in times when the fans had nothing else to look forward to in the team. Now, when either Reyes or Harvey takes the field for the team, you can hear the groans coming all the way from the Hamptons.

Back in 2011, when the Philadelphia Phillies won 102 games, the Mets fans still had one chase that mattered to them. Jose Reyes was racing against Ryan Braun for the National League batting crown, while also increasing the value of the contract he would inevitably receive in the off season. Reyes was always a fan favorite, and with his chase for the batting title, his lore was growing even more. With this, we began to see the rise of resistance to the idea of wanting to trade Jose. There were offers on the table for Reyes, but the Mets ended up retaining their lightning rod shortstop. He ended up winning the batting title, becoming the first Met to do so. He then jumped ship to Miami, where we all watched his career take a turn for the worse.

With Reyes gone, space was opened up for a new player to grab the attention of Mets fans. Harvey made his rookie debut that season, and the fans fell in love. Eventually, his dominant persona took over the New York area, and the Dark Knight earned the start at the 2013 All-Star game. Shortly following that start however, Harvey tore his UCL, requiring him to have Tommy John surgery. He had a brief resurgence in the 2015 season, but since then, has not done anything resembling success on the mound for the Mets.

After bouncing around the league, Reyes found himself back on the Mets in July of 2016. He has not been the same Reyes that he once was. Flash forward to 2018, and now the Mets are giving their fans a lot to look forward to. They have exciting players like Brandon Nimmo and Noah Syndergaard that entertain the fans, and more importantly, they win ball games. Harvey and Reyes have both struggled so far this season.

It makes you wonder what these guys are to the team. To me, it just seems like they are shells of the players that they used to be. They both were two of the few Mets that saw success during a dark time in the history of the franchise. Maybe that is why the team is rewarding them by giving them chance after chance. They are not contributing to this team in any positive way, and they sound hostile in post-game interviews. They are two of the players that feel that they deserve a spot on this roster, and from what they have shown so far this season, that couldn’t be anymore false of a belief. A hitless Reyes and an 0-2 Harvey with a 6.00 ERA don’t belong on a team with such high aspirations.

Saying they should be gone and actually making it happen are of course two completely different things. The optimal route to shake these guys is via the trade. The problem with a trade possibility is finding someone that would want these guys. Players with atrocious stats have no market value, so finding a trade partner would be nearly impossible. Either way, midnight has struck for these two ball players, and they certainly have turned into pumpkins.

16 comments on “Fading Mets stars need to be shelved

  • Pete

    As a lesser of two evils, I’ll take Reyes. I had hoped that the Mets would of made Harvey expendable before arbitration but that’s water under the bridge now. The weather conditions are not exactly the best for BB. So long as the Mets SP remains relatively healthy Harvey should be DFA. Going to Vegas is meaningless at this stage of his career. And since he says he’s a starter(?) having a player put himself in front of the teams needs makes it that much easier to accommodate. One player is doing what the team asks of him. The other is dictating what his requirements are. What a prima dona.

  • Michael

    Reyes can play multiple positions and is good for spelling a starter or as a late inning replacement. Also, probably the fastest one on the team. Let’s not have such short a memory that he had a lousy start last year and tore the cover off the ball in the final 2 months. I am glad he is on the team.

    As for Harvey, I’m afraid he is shot. There is no movement on his pitches and teams are teeing off on him. I would give him one more start and if he bombs again then it would be time to cut the cord. He doesn’t seem amenable for stints in the BP or minors so it would be so long it’s been good to know you.

  • TexasGusCC

    To me Reyes and Harvey are both players trying to change all they’ve ever known. Reyes is adapting to learning patience and Harvey is trying to learn his new pitches. These pitches are slower with less room for error. He can still touch 95, but it’s not too often or is a maxed effort. He has to learn to get by at 91-92.

    One more start, then Harvey will choose the bullpen or Vegas. He should take the bullpen, improve, and wait for his next chance. If he can handle the situation gracefully, it will help restore some admiration that was lost amidst years of arrogance and foolishness.

    I would let Harvey pick which he prefers, the bullpen or starting in the minors. There are pros and cons to both.

  • Rick

    It’s funny how we are seeing all these comments about Harvey yet back in 2014 when he was a major head case and people like myself commented that we should trade him because I saw what he really was and we got blasted by the “writers” (the joke that they are) and fellow Mets fans and that it was unthinkable and the same in 2015. The Yankees would have given us a nice return and Harvey would have stayed in NY. Now look at the mess we’re in? You guys wanted this, now you got it! He’s totally worthless and we won’t even get a half eaten sandwich for him. And while you hang on every Harvey start hoping he’ll be what he once was and prove us wrong (which won’t happen) we continue to ignore our need for a catcher and more speed. Yawn……. I pray for the day this team is separated from the current ownership and gets aggressive or cares enough to get quality players to add to the few we have and bring back the feeling we had in 86

  • Pete in Iowa

    Of the two, I would jettison Reyes. Oh for 20 is pretty amazing. Sure, he’s got speed, but what good is it if he’s never on base? With the glut of backup infielders on the 40 man (Guillorme, Evans, Kelly, Cechinni, and yes, TJ), he is easily replaced. And I don’t want to hear about him stepping in at short. He may be marginally better than some of those listed above, but certainly is not as good as Guillorme. How long are we going to wait on a guy to “heat up”??
    Harvey needs to go to the bullpen as soon as Vargas returns. Put him in some low-leverage spots and hope he figures some things out. In a month or so, if he improves any, he can spot start of take the place of an injured pitcher.
    The club could certainly do without either of these guys right now, but I think Harvey has more value to the club than Reyes does at this point. I wouldn’t release him just yet.

    • Pete

      But Pete Harvey made it clear when asked. I’m a starter. Just not a very good one. He’s drawing a line in the sand and I’m sorry to say that Callaway made a mistake in fighting to keep Harvey. The team comes first. You can’t continue to throw Harvey out there “hoping” he figures it out. That’s what Spring Training was for. Sorry but Harvey’s obstinate and enlarged ego make him less valuable to the team

  • b

    leave Jose alone

  • Chris F

    Reyes and Harvey are done. The team needs to worry about the name on the front not the name on the back. Guillorme or Evans can do anything or more than Reyes. Fire Sherlock and make him 3B coach. Or just DFA him. Same with Harvey. The only quality data we see from his is the explanations of hows hes getting close to locked in after every blown start. Sounds good, feels bad. Let anyone have him.

  • John

    Let’s remeber we are three weeks into the season and almost all of it has had weather more fitting football or outdoor hockey than baseball. So I wouldn’t read anything based on the first 20 games.
    Having said that, it is clear that Reyes is on a hard downward decline. His baseball instincts having always been lacking but he could cover it up with pure talent. Not anymore. But he is still the correct player for the roster spot at this point. Wilmer can play an inning or two at shortstop in an emergency but only to finish out a game before a roster move can be made. Cecchini and Guillerme need to get playing time in the early part of the season. I would think that if Reyes hasn’t turned it around by June, you will see Cecchini as the utility infielder. But it makes no sense to do it now and have him sit on the bench. But by June he could get enough time as Cabrera, Rosario and Frazier could get days off during the summer.
    As for Harvey, this is a tough call. The cold weather is tough on pitchers who need to rely on feel as opposed to pure stuff. And as someone who is transitioning, he has no experience to fall back on. You have to give him some leeway to see how to it works out. I don’t think they need to show him any loyalty as he has never really been a “good” teammate always more of self first player. And even if he turns it around, unless he becomes 2015 Harvey again, I wouldn’t even considering resigning him. But Matz and Wheeler still have a lot of question marks.

  • Edwin Pena

    June 30th is the deadline, just watch. If these two old Met Stars don’t start shining again, they are gonzo.
    Reyes can be gone about the time TJ Rivera will be ready and can fill in at 2b / 3b. If Rosario needs a breather, Cabrera can step in for a game or two, won’t be the end of the world if he does. As for Harvey, the Mets are desperate for him to show some signs before the trading deadline to ship his ‘diva arse’ outta here.

    Guy (Harvey) is a walking dysfunction and is easily replaced by either of these fellows: Vargas, Gsellman, Lugo. Speaking of trade deadline, how about Mets making the Marlins an offer that they cannot refuse for JT Real – catcher – Muto ? A.Gimenez – SS (won’t see SS as a Met for 15 years with Rosario around), C.Flexen,
    Plawecki (replaces JT), Rhames, other pitcher, even Dunn if absolutely necessary. Mets give 5 players, get JT Realmuto and another piece or 2 from AAA. Gimenez and Dunn would be the loss for Mets, the other guys are fodder. You have to give up something to get something. Mets are after the division and JT is signed through like 2021 I believe.

    • Chris F

      I make that trade in a heartbeat. It would take Gimenez for sure, and hes blocked unless hes the 2B of the future. In any event, I do that for Realmuto all day every day.

  • b

    Matt could be gone sooner

    • Mike Walczak

      The final nail for Harvey could be if he breaks up with another girlfriend. That would send him totally over the cliff.

  • Pete from NJ

    As for Matt Harvey the next four weeks will tell the story. He pitches in the bullpen sulking all the way. Then the move: he can refuse being optioned to AAA but then he’s is DFA’d, When that happens, I believe he can refuse his outright assignment to AAA but then he voids his contract and becomes a free agent. Dillon Gee took his outright assignment taking the cash and pitching in the Las Vegas purgatory.
    Matt has a decision.

    As for Jose there’s still time. He can come out of it and play the role that he signed up for No premature move yet. When TJ Rivera is ready…well?

  • b

    matt will be traded for a bucket of baseballs : nothing

  • OldBackstop

    Reyes is batting .125…last April 23 he has batting .104, went on a ten game tear, and he wound up leading the team in runs scored.

    Despite the batting average, he gives us some speed and multiple position backup that helps the bullpen.

    I like him and I’m pulling for Reyes, he is one of the all-time great Mets.

    Harvey?…..there is zero chance, given his agent and attitude, that Harvey will be on the 2019 Mets. I doubt the Wilpons will put $5 mil on the street. Maybe if we decide to take on a huge salary in a trade at some point he can be moved in that transaction. Other than that, well…..I’m pulling for him too. I just don’t like him.

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