Lately, while scouring the Internet for any new Mets talk, I have been seeing a lot of discussion about the future of Jose Reyes with the team. A lot of people are talking about what Reyes could be traded for or possible replacements for him next season, and they seem resigned (or in some cases even receptive) to the idea that next year, a new player will man shortstop.
This idea makes no sense, and if Reyes leaves, it will be a huge mistake on the part of the Mets front office, as there is no possible reason why they should not ink him to a contract extension.
Reyes is the most electric player the Mets have ever had, and when he is hot, the Mets win, plain and simple. He has more influence on the outcome of the game than any other Met. Reyes has so many tools that can energize the team and disrupt opponents, including his gap power, blazing speed on infield ground balls, and—most importantly—the ability to steal a base.
Numbers wise, Reyes' averages over his career are a .286 average, 13 homers, 66 RBIs, and 58 stolen bases. These are just averages—Reyes has shown that he can top these numbers easily and at age 27, he is just entering his prime, so there is no reason why he can’t get even better.
The fact is that there are few other players who can contribute like Reyes can, fewer still who can play shortstop, and none who are readily available as a possible replacement.
If you think that this year’s battle for second base is tedious, just imagine what it will be like trying to find a suitable player to play shortstop.
One argument for letting Reyes go is that the Mets might be able to trade him for some useful pieces or promising prospects. However, the likelihood of this is quite slim, as these trades very rarely work out for the team trading the All-Star. Just ask the Twins how trading Johan Santana went, or the Marlins how trading Miguel Cabrera went.
There is just no such thing as equal value for a player of Jose Reyes’ caliber.
Another argument is that Reyes will demand too much money to keep. Many speculate that if Reyes produces this season at a top level once more that he will demand a contract roughly around Carl Crawford’s contract of seven years, $142 million.
Some point to Reyes' injury history in trying to argue that such a contract is a huge risk because he might miss a large part of it. However, for most of his career, he has been injury-free. After suffering through two injury-filled years to begin his career, Reyes played in at least 153 games over the next four seasons.
Though he lost 2009 to injuries and then suffered through a thyroid issue and oblique injury that cost him time, Reyes did play in 133 games last season. In addition, many questioned how doctors handled his injuries the past two seasons and perhaps with better care, he might have played in even more games.
Regardless, Reyes has been healthy for a majority of his career, and he is just too talented to just let go. If you look at their careers, Reyes and Crawford have very similar numbers, and Reyes is providing this production from a position that is much scarcer in talent.
The fact is that Reyes deserves a contract of this magnitude.
And here lies the problem: The Wilpons might not be willing to give any player that much money, especially given their recent financial issues. However, if the Wilpons continue to refuse to sell the team, then they must act like an owner of a New York baseball team, and that means being willing to spend money.
The Mets are not a small market team, and when even small market teams like the Marlins recognize that they have to open their pockets to sign a player like Hanley Ramirez to a long term deal, then there is no way the Mets can justify letting Reyes walk.
If the Wilpons want to tighten up a little bit on money, I’m fine with that. Maybe it means that the Mets won’t sign the biggest name free agent, but that is why the team hired such an excellent front office to actually build a team rather than choosing the Minaya route of patching superstars together.
However, the pending Reyes free agency is not the time for the Wilpons to play miser. Reyes is not just any big name; he is a homegrown talent that Met fans have had the pleasure of watching grow and mature on the field before their eyes, and in doing so, they have grown attached to him.
Players like Reyes are special and rarely come along. Letting him walk would be a baseball crime of the highest order and would indicate that the Wilpons have truly turned their back on the fan base.
Rather than risking alienating the fans, the Wilpons should be working to do whatever they can to ensure that Met fans have the opportunity to watch Reyes for many years to come.
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