The Jose Reyes of 10 years ago, the one who electrified the crowd with triples, steals, and diving plays in the hole, is a player we will all look back fondly on for years to come. But he doesn’t play here anymore. His late career return to Queens made for a great story and he was useful and productive last year. However, the 2017 Reyes is 33-years-old, with less range in the field, less juice in his legs, and less game in his heart. The slingshot arm and gleaming smile are still there, but Reyes is clearly nowhere near the primetime version of himself anymore.
As of this writing, Reyes is batting .187, a full 100 points below his career average. He still brings some speed and a serviceable glove to third or short (and second if we needed him there) but he’s just not hitting. Be it age or personal distractions to blame, Reyes is not getting it done. Although Wilmer Flores is nobody’s idea of a third baseman, he’s hitting .317 with power and is showing that he can hit right handed pitching when given the chance. TJ Rivera has also held his own, while playing multiple positions, including third base. The struggling Reyes meanwhile, has only started in two of the past seven games.
A confluence of upcoming moves could possibly spell the end of Jose Reyes’ Mets tenure. Top prospect Amed Rosario is slashing .339/.381/.502 with 23 extra base hits and 11 steals while showing terrific range at shortstop. The super 2 deadline has passed and his call to the big leagues is imminent. Rosario is our shortstop of the future. Reyes is our shortstop of the past. Time to pass the baton.
At the same time, veteran shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera seems poised to shift over to third when Rosario is called up. Cabrera has done a fine job for the Mets over the past season and a half, hitting in the clutch and demonstrating clubhouse leadership and boyish enthusiasm. However, Cabrera has clearly lost a step defensively. His range at shortstop has diminished and he’s made more errors as of June 9 than he made all of last year. This would be a great opportunity to audition Cabrera, who’s bat still warrants him being in the lineup, for third base. With David Wright‘s future completely uncertain and Flores struggling defensively at the corner, Cabrera could make a good short term option at the hot corner for next year. The Mets hold a reasonable $8.5 million option on Cabrera for 2018 so, at a minimum, he could hold the spot until the Mets find a long-term replacement.
However the Mets handle the coming infield realignment, it’s becoming clear that Reyes may be the odd man out. Add Rosario to a mix that already includes Lucas Duda, Neil Walker, Cabrera, Flores, Reyes, and T.J. Rivera and someone has to go. Six infielders on the roster is pretty standard. Barring an injury (always a possibility with this team) the options will be to demote Rivera or release Reyes. The latter is certainly an option the front office must consider.
Matt, I agree. However, the Mets could duck the decision on Reyes by demoting Reynolds. Remember that Reyes is still on a very inexpensive contract and that may sway the thinking of the Wilpons.
Rosario should be up now.
I don’t love TJ Rivera, though I think he has the makeup of a good pinch-hitter.
I remain a little worried that Cabrera might not embrace 3B. He’s played, I believe, one game total at that position. Very hard to make that transition midseason. I like that the Mets hold the option on him for 2018; I love the way he hit in the second-half last season; and I value that he’s a top-step guy, always into the game. This is a very quiet team with a lack of leadership.
A lot depends on Jose’s mindset, his willingness to play a supporting role, but clearly he’s not giving the Mets much of anything. Jose was a player who looked depressed the last couple of years. He especially sulked in Colorado. Last season with the Mets he became more buoyant, lively. Now he just looks lost, only animated when he’s doing those dumb handshakes in the dugout. I can’t tell from here what he means to the team in that clubhouse. My guess is . . . not much. I think he was tight with Cespedes, and I wonder how much that factors into the decision.
Sidenote: The Mets used to have no catching coach, but they had an infield coach. So they dumped Teufel and added a catching coach to help d’Arnaud. But when you look at the defensive issues in the infield, the overall sag from last season, and the obstacles moving forward, don’t you wish there was somebody who worked with these guys on a daily basis? You know, a guy they respected who knew what he was doing? If Cabrera is asked to play 3B, shouldn’t there be a lot of support — a guide?
Don’t you wish this club could find a way to have an infield coach and a catching coach? Is that too much to hope for?
Don’t you wish this club could find a way to have an infield coach and a catching coach? Is that too much to hope for?
Priceless question JP….for a major league baseball team. A bit like Delta asking do we really need jet engine mechanics *and* hydraulics experts?
Scott played the infield during his illustrious career. Hopefully he is bringing his immense wisdom to our infielders as well as the strategic wizardry he exhibits daily on the bench.
Young Rosario’s primary asset would be the glove work at shortstop. His hitting is a bit uncertain especially the first few weeks of playing. We should be patient.
The move has to be done with a lot of thought on how it effects the other players especially the chemistry that seems to be there with Jose, Wilmer and Cabrerra.
So I agree with Jimmy P, I don’t think this is as easy as it seems.
The first 2 paragraphs sound very familiar…
Charlie – I guess I have more patience than you do. I know I’m not alone but I just so wanted Jose to turn it around.
Jimmy P – some excellent points. The team should absolutely have an infield coach and I don’t understand that. The leadership issue is interesting. While he’s not playing, Wright has been in the dugout and clubhouse at times. I wonder how much leadership if any he’s been able to provide. Minus Wright, Cabrera and Granderson look the most like leaders to me. This was part of the thinking with bringing in Cuddyer a few years ago. I also think Johnson and Uribe offered some leadership.
I nearly wrote this post about a different topic and since it might be too late next week, here’s the gist of it. Sandy Alderson has an opportunity to reset this team and give it one last shot to turn the season around. He could make a series of big moves in one day (activate Cespedes, Matz and Lugo, call up Rosario, shift Cabrera to third, demote Tyler Pill and Matt Reynolds, and release Neil Ramirez and Jose Reyes) followed by a team meeting and press conference. This is the team going forward.
+1 those are the moves.
But if Matz and Lugo falter , and Harvey and JDG don’t pitch competitively then nothing the offense does will turn this season around .
“This is the team going forward.”
At least until July 30 or so…
The Team has about 25 games to Re-Set the Season…that will be successful “Almost Only Because” of Improved Pitching…if it happens!
They have a pack of vets on possible last year deals…. they need to keep them engaged and playing.
The Team will include Rosario within the next 15-30 games…plenty of time for him to add to the mix.
For whats its worth, Cliff Floyd was on the radio assessing the Mets, and he said from a realistic baseball perspective, its time to sell off all the parts that have value.
Good Article – Reyes was great just like David Wright was great. I love Rosario. The Mets were bad in 83 and in May of that year, the Straw was called up.
In addition, time to trade Harvey. How about Harvey for Rafael Devers.
Flores has value as a bat-first utility infielder, although he plays a solid first and an ok second. I’d keep him around over Rivera on the bench, but that shouldn’t be an issue if Reyes admits it’s probably time to hang them up.
chatter picks up after the last one until tonights box gets fixed