The long MLB regular season is finally coming to an end. After 156 mostly disappointing games, the Mets season will officially be done on Wednesday. Before I look back on the both the good and bad from 2011, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on one Mr. Jose Reyes.
Reyes, in case you live under a rock, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. People around the game feel that he will be asking for Carl Crawford type money. Most people think he will be on his way out of town. Others think that he will take a hometown discount to stay with the organization he has been with since 1999 when he was a 16-year old.
My thoughts on what the organization have been well documented. I thought they should have tried to trade him before the deadline, when his value was highest. It's not that I don't like Reyes or don't value him - it's just that I thought we needed a fresh start. If we signed him to a long term contract, his knee or Achilles or hamstring or quad or ankle was sure to get hurt. If we traded him he was sure to stay healthy.
Regardless, the Mets didn't trade him and now face the possibility that he leaves and all we get are two compensatory draft picks that at best won't be ready to contribute for 3 years. After assuming he was gone early in the season, I actually think that there is a decent chance he might stay in NY. There just seem to be a lot of signs. First, with his recent injury problem I think the Mets have more of the upper hand. Why would any team, they will ask him, want to sign him to a 7 year contract when he can't go the entire year without being hurt. In June it looked like he might - in September, not so much. Second, the number of teams that could afford him are starting to decrease. Philly recently committed to Rollins. The Yanks are moving a recently resurgent Jeter. Boston seems to be tapped out after signing Adrian Gonzalez and Crawford. Cincy and SF are probably interested, but I can't seem them spending the money. Texas and Chicago have their star SS's. Maybe Anaheim? Third, recent reports indicate that Reyes really loves NY and might not want to go anywhere. I don't know...it's just starting to feel like we might be able to re-sign him.
Of course, what happens if we aren't able/willing to re-sign him? Well, first, Mets fans are going to be pissed. Even though Reyes and Wright have blood on their hands for the 2006-2009 season, Reyes is one of us. He came up through the organization and during his best year, provided a level of excitement we hadn't seen in Flushing since 1986. When he was rolling, our team was rolling. He was our catalyst. And long before we were disappointed by the likes of Fernando Martinez, he entered as the BIG prospect and instantly stole the show. But even with all the good moments, he has had some really down times. It is what being a Mets fan is about - in a way, he is one of us. For that, he will always be one of the most popular Mets ever.
If this six game homestand against the Phils and Reds is his last time in blue and orange, I want to thank him for all the exciting moments we had with him. He simply will not look right in red or in pinstripes.
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