One of the hot topics in Metsland is whether the club should bring back Jose Reyes. It’s hard not to have visions of 2011 first half Reyes dancing in our heads. It’s also hard to ignore the domestic violence charges that now are part of his resume. Here’s how some past and present Mets360 writers feel about bringing Reyes back.
Larry Smith – I am of the opinion that the Mets should not bring back Reyes. Besides for his domestic violence baggage I am not convinced that his skills are strong enough to help the team. Should the front office opt to bring him aboard I suppose the best way to use him would be at shortstop while shifting Asdrubal Cabrera to 3B. If the club is not going to trade for help at 3B (e.g. Danny Valencia) then I think it is time to shift Neil Walker to third while promoting Dilson Herrera.
David Groveman – On purely baseball terms, the Mets are better off with Reyes starting at third base/shortstop than Wilmer Flores. Reyes adds an element of speed that has been missing since the Mets let Reyes leave town in the first place. The issue with Reyes’ return is that he has committed acts that are not forgivable off the field. Players like Herrera and Gavin Cecchini are tempting internal options but neither pays immediate dividends.
Charlie Hangley – I’m on record as being against it. If the Mets are looking for a low-cost solution, the move would be to promote Herrera and shift Walker to third. I think Reyes is finished as a regular, and the PR hit would be huge. The only one really pushing for this seems to be Jeff Wilpon; enough said…
Joe Vasile – Casting aside the moral aspect of Reyes’ alleged off-field actions, signing him is not something that makes a lot of sense. He is now a 33-year-old aging speedster with a history of leg injuries who hit .274/.310/.378 in 2015 while playing in two of the most hitter-friendly environments in baseball in Toronto and Colorado. Reyes would be a nostalgia-fueled downgrade from every internal option, even Matt Reynolds.
Mike Koehler – This is a very serious decision, especially for a franchise that just settled a sexual discrimination lawsuit last year. I could be on-board with bringing Jose back if they tackle the issue proactively and show real change. On the field, I doubt his numbers are as bad as they were in Colorado – he was publicly looking to leave. He’s got to be better than the Ty Kelly or Eric Campbell.
Matt Netter – I’m so torn that I changed my mind while writing this. I say, get him but only if he is remorseful with a positive attitude and in playing shape. He could be the spark this team needs. He costs nothing. If he flops, cut him and make the Herrera/Walker move and/or a trade next month. Trades aren’t happening now and the Cuban guy will cost a lot and won’t be ready to play for at least a month.
Doug Parker – The past is a bucket of ashes. That’s Carl Sandburg, not me, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…
Chris Walendin – I’d be extremely disappointed in the Mets if they were to acquire Reyes. This would remain my position even if Jose Reyes were the best player in the league and could be had for free. There is no “baseball side” to consider, in my opinion. Domestic violence is far more than baggage or bad optics or a PR challenge, and it needs to be unambiguously condemned.
Joe Barbieri – I don’t seem to recall too much negativity when Aroldis Chapman first took the mound in New York after serving his domestic violence-related suspension, so why should the fallout be that much different for Reyes? Even past his prime and rusty due to the layoff, Reyes should provide an upgrade to an already sputtering offense that may have just lost Yoenis Cespedes.
Rob Rogan – On one hand, what Reyes did is despicable. On the other, people make mistakes and preach forgiveness and second chances. As a professional athlete whose actions are magnified by the spotlight, he’d need to meet the public backlash with an equally aggressive effort to make amends. Maybe devoting resources (time, money, etc.) to organizations dealing with domestic abuse. As far as on the field? He’s probably toast, but this team should probably leave no stone unturned.
So, that’s our take. Now it’s your turn. Let us know how you feel by voting in the poll below:
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To me, Reyes’ issues though serious should not be the deciding factor. He deserves a second chance as a human being. Just not sure what he’ll add and what role he can play.
Also, don’t be so sure that Nimmo and Herrera wouldn’t make an immediate impact.,Orher teams show confidence in their prospects, why not the Mets?
Eric, did you forget that Jim Leyland told Terry Collins to not depend on youngsters because they make mistakes? Or maybe forgot that Collins is here to win games and doesn’t have time to teach? Of course Collins is so loved by his lousy veterans, that when a player comes up on any kind of hitting streak, he must sit about a week to make sure that he is cold and doesn’t make the veteran look bad…
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-debating-jose-reyes-character-article-1.2683094
A woman’s point of view. Certainly needs utmost consideration.
“I’ve come to understand and to believe that each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” — Bryan Stevenson, “Just Mercy.”
I see this as a baseball decision.
Editor’s Note – AP Style to cite books is to put the title in quotes, not caps.
what he did was horrible, because his own wife has forgiven him and he paid his penalty, I am willing to give him a second chance.
That said, he is not a good fit! Cabrera has been as good or better than any of us could have expected. Why would we want to move him to 3b?
And how do we know Reyes can play 3b? He has never played the position before.
Finally, we want to put him at 2b and move walker to 3b? This is so we can have 2 players out of position? Makes no sense.
The right love is the Cuban 3b. This could be a star and costs us no players. Lets not waste this pitching staff and lets get this guy!
My head, not my heart, tells me that David Wright’s time as a productive 3rd baseman is past. My first preference is to assess the Cuban and, if he is the real thing, make a bid. My second preference is to sign Reyes and use him at 3rd. I would not want to disrupt the Cabrera-Walker combo. Reyes has the arm for 3rd, and if he has anything left in the tank would be an upgrade over Flores. Wilmer could be used as a platoon with Loney a 1b. If Reyes proves not up to the task he can be cut at any time without much of a financial loss.
+1
From the “Perhaps no one will find this interesting but me” file:
With 33 votes in, the poll was showing around 75% in favor of a Reyes return.
Now, with 134 votes in, the poll has completely flipped around, with 75% not in favor of a return.
I figured we must have been linked by some domestic violence site or something. But the only thing that’s weird in the site stats is that we have 91 visits from Asdrubal Cabrera’s Baseball-Reference page.
Some AC fans really don’t want to see this move happen.
I find it dubious that 91 people visited the AC site on baseball reference within the time frame allotted — then clicked on the 360 link — and then voted on Reyes. It just strikes me as offf.
I would personally see Reyes as a piece, as bench strength, as a 3B alternative, and maybe a guy who allows you to trade Flores. I hope that no one would seriously disrupt Cabrera for what amounts to a longshot alternative. Could be a useful player, filling a variety of roles. To me, if he needs to play SS, then really, it would be a strange signing. I realize that part of Cabrera’s assets was that he could, in fact, move over the 3B. I just don’t think you make that move for Jose Reyes.
Well the AC stats arent mine. However, that would be dead on. Why move a guy who we just hired for 2 years, who is immeasurably better than anything we’ve had since Reyes and who is doing it on both sides of the ball. Pair him with Neil Walker, and our middle infield is humming along right now, with players in theor natural positions. Adding Reyes is a move that fails to address the real needs we have at 1B and 3B and C. Adding him means we need to put players, possibly multiple players in new positions to make room for someone we have no clue that can even play at this level with high competence any more. How long til the first hammy whammy?
Dismissing the domestic violence as some sort of “she said it was ok” is preposterous. Fear of retribution and fear of negative personal identification is what keeps abused individuals (of all flavors) from speaking out. The situation should keep Reyes off the baseball field.
Upside: bench guy with possible speed.
Downside: so many things that its not worth writing anymore. Let’s just call it a rap sheet at this point.
It’s got to be a baseball decision. If his wife is not pressing charges there is no reason or responsibility for Met fans or FO to do so in dubio pro reo.
I would sign him and play him at 3B. He would, in my fantasy, take the roster spot of De Aza (Johnson/Reynolds becomes your 5th OF).
Sign the Cuban too snd send him to ST in Las Vegas. In a month, re-arrange the deck chairs as necessary.
+ 1 here too
Reyes improves the roster. He had. A 688 OPS in a down 2015. In perspective, Flores has a .670 OPS in 4 years and around 1000 AB. Reyes would be replacing Reynolds not Flores on the roster. Reyes’ play will determine how much and where he plays. It is low risk and high reward.
Yes, and it is also the kind of move you make before you are forced into a big, costly trade. A timing issue, too. Sort of like reaching for the duct tape before calling the repairman. Sometimes the duct tape works! Sometimes it only buys you time. Other times it only delays the inevitable. I just don’t think there’s good trades to be made in the middle of June; the equation heavily favors the seller.