While many are wondering if Yu Darvish's stock could be affected by Japanese imports' past success, or lack thereof, Dave Cameron of Fangraphs wonders if Carl Crawford's poor 2011 could affect Jose Reyes' next contract. As Cameron writes, the two players are similar in many ways, and teams may have second thoughts about committing so many years and dollars to a player in Crawford's mold. Still, in this morning's poll, approximately 63% of MLBTR readers predicted Reyes would sign for $100MM or more. Let's check out today's Reyes-related rumors, with the latest additions on top….
- Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio (Twitter link) hears that Reyes only has two legit offers so far, but cautions that it's still early. Bowden guesses the offers are from the Marlins and Mets, but Adam Rubin of ESPN New York (Twitter link) spoke to a Mets person who suggests no offer has been extended to Reyes.
- Andy Martino of the New York Daily News talked to Mets people who continue to find it unlikely that the club would go as high as six years for Reyes. SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter) says the reported six-year, $90MM offer for Reyes could be in the Mets' ballpark, but no one expects that to ultimately be the best offer.
- Tigers manager Jim Leyland told Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio (Twitter link) that, while he loves Reyes, "I don't think we're going to shop at that store."
- GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudicourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he thinks the Brewers' interest in Reyes has "probably" been overstated (Twitter link).
He’s not going to the Marlins……Mets, 6 year, 95 million
Way overpaid either way
I don’t think 6/90 is a way overpay. He’s obviously not going to be had for 10MM, so I think 15MM is reasonable.
The guy has played 130+ games once in the last three years. In my mind you’re paying way too much for potential numbers on the basis of his 4 stellar season from 05-08. Obviously a very dynamic player that will help whatever team ends up with him, I just wouldn’t be too happy with my club if they invested that heavily into a guy like him
What’s reasonable to you? Serious question, not trolling.
The money is understandable given the current economic climate in baseball today (despite how ridiculous that may be) but the guaranteed years are the sticker for me.
Yes he is still a younger player in the “prime” of his career, but 6, 7, and 8 years is a stretch for anyone, especially the type of player who depends so much on his legs (both health and skill set wise). Will his legs allow him to be the same type of dynamic player at the top of a lineup 7 years from now at 20+ million dollars? Will his legs allow him to stay at short stop for the length of his contract? If his legs deteriorate and speed worsens what exactly separates him from any other player?
That’s the myth about Reyes that he needs his legs to succeed. While his speed helps make him an exciting player, he’s a line drive hitting machine to which speed has no relevance in his ability to hit. As long as he employs good plate discipline and level swing, he’s a batting title threat.
Your in denial if you think Reyes doesn’t need speed to succeed . You don’t pay 20+ million dollars a year for a .292 lifetime line drive hitter unless he can steal 50+ bases or rack up extra base hits using his speed
Please stop at that store
I’d love shopping at that store. Can we at least windowshop and dream a little?
I hope teams are a little reserved about Reyes and his price comes down. These contracts are starting to get a little out of control, and unfortunately cripple some teams if they try to take a chance. Maybe this year will start to slow down that steep incline of contracts? Probably wishful thinking…
The difference between Reyes and Crawford is that Reyes is a SS and Crawford is a LF. SS’s that are that effective offensively and can hold their own defensively are extremely rare.
Plus his WAR has been over 5.3 in 4 of the past 6 years. Crawford has been over 4.5 only once in his career.
That’s not to say that he deserves a Carl Crawford contract. He doesn’t. But then again, neither did Carl Crawford.
Thats if your going by B-ref WAR, not Fangraphs. And the real difference between Reyes and Crawford is health and durability.
Even with Reyes missing nearly all of 2009, his WAR over the past 6 seasons is 25.4, compared to Crawford’s 22.7 from 2005-2010. I’d rather have him on my team any day of the week.
And I thought that before last season.
I don’t think it’s close. People don’t realize how positional scarcity affects a player’s stock. I mean, besides Colorado, every team would upgrade at SS by signing Reyes. Can’t say the same for Crawford.
Also they are different people altogether.
As much as I would love to have Reyes at the top of the lineup I would NOT want to commit that many years/dollars to get him. Smart move looking elsewhere.
i would max out at 5 years 85 million, do you think thats reasonable?
For us, absolutely. But he is going to command more. It only takes 1 team to overpay.
I agree with that but out of the teams that want him so far, we are the best team by far and if i had a chance to win a ring in detroit and they wanted me i would go in a heart beat(IMO)
I dont want him anywhere near Detroit. He is always injured and is a selfish player, as evident with this batting title bunt. Screw Reyes.
i agree we need his speed though and he wouldnt fit in with the tigers we have guys that have fun playing the game not playing to win a batting title
If you don’t think Jose has fun playing, you’ve never seen him play. It was the last game of the year and he wanted to give the franchise their first batting title.
are the marlins going to be the last team standing? lol
hes not going there, hanley said he wont move postions and if they sign reyes he will demand a trade and they would rather have hanley than reyes
i think if it comes down to it hanley will move to 3rd base
He released a statement yesterday saying if they sign reyes he will demand a trade or not play
unless reyes moves to 2nd base i dont see it
he didnt say he will demand a trade or not play he said he’s not pleased at the prospect of changing positions
no he said he will not play any other position. the guy is stubborn he is not a team player
Honestly, Red Sox hate aside, Reyes is a far better player than Crawford, plus Reyes plays a premium position and is just slightly younger. I agree however, there is a hint of concern out there these days with some of these players and just how much you want to spend on them. Crawford may just be the last disastrous, wildly over paid player and contract we see for a while. You don’t sign a player for $20mm a year, to bat 7th, and play a position in a park that Yogi could handle at 84. I think Reyes will get his 5 or 6 year deal for $100mm +
Let’s give him one more year before we already call it disastrous .
Fair enough. I don’t want to take anything away from Crawford himself, as an athlete, but my points still stand. I’m more so criticizing the Sox and their valuation of the player. It’s unfortunate that Reyes is being compared to Crawford. If I am a team that needs a SS right now, I’d be salivating over the option of Reyes, if I was a team that needed a LF’r, I just say meh if Crawford where available. I’d rather stick Andrew Jones out there for $1mm a year.
Unless he has a career year it is disastrous as of now he got payed more than any outfielder ever!
Dude, get serious. Yogi’s 84 and he recently took a nasty fall in the bathtub of his home. It will most likely take until May before he can play LF in Fenway again. Still he could DH in place of Ortiz before that.
Reyes really isn’t a “far better player” than Crawford though, they have actually been extremely similar players for their careers. The main difference between the two is that Reyes plays a premium position while Crawford plays one of the least premium positions in the game (even though he could actually play a similarly premium position in CF).
They’re actually pretty much identical going into their contract years
Crawford career (at the time) wRC+:113 WAR: 36.8 Line: .296/.337/.444
Reyes career wRC+:112 WAR: 33.4 Line: .292/.341/.441
Both over eight seasons but Crawford played about 100 more games which might have put them near even at WAR. In fact, if they were in the same offseason, Crawford would have probably been the safer bet because he had less injury concerns. But like you said positional value plays in as well
“Still, in this morning’s poll, approximately 63% of MLBTR readers predicted Reyes would sign for $100MM or more.” That statement is a little misleading… since only 1 of the 7 options were for less than 100M, it would make sense that the data was skewed that way… But in reality 75% of participants selected one of the two lowest options provided, with only 25% going above 110M…
I don’t think w/ his injury track record that anything over 5 yrs is wise….even that is a bit risky IMO….
So glad Detroit isn’t going after him.
Let Reyes walk!!!
I wouldn’t mind a spring training tryout: R.Tejada, J.Valespin, R.Havens
I still want Jose back, but I would be one happy Met fan if either Havens or Valdespin gets a shot (especially Havens).
As long as Reyes doesn’t end up somewhere else in the NL East (aside from the Mets), I’ll be happy.
Reyes would sure add a new dimension to the Tigers game. Maybe A-Jax could learn something in terms of stealing from Reyes.
Jackson is a good base stealer (82% for his career), he just doesn’t get on base enough to steal 40+.
My bad, drew a conclusion from my assumption and was wrong.
Jackson gets on enough to steal 40 its just that leyland gave him the green light instead of forcing him to go!He has the speed to steal 60 if he got on as much as he did in his rookie season
You get a like for admitting your mistake.
look up the #s for jim leyland coaching….he doesn’t really try to steal even. Not a knock on him, i named my first born son after him – for real.
This post actually made me compare Reyes and Crawford’s stats and there are indeed very similar. Crawford has a more steals than Reyes but has had a year and about 1000 more AB’s more to do it. Anyways to keep this short, Reyes is a better producer than Crawford but is hindered by his track record for injuries. I’m thinking Reye’s will eventually end up in Florida, which is a good idea because i really do think it will limit his vulnerability to injury. Too bad he wont make Crawford like money, Shame. Whatever will he do with only $100 million dollars? boo hoo.
What makes you say that Florida will limit his vulnerability to injury?
Hot and humid weather of course! It’s cold in NY and hot in florida, i think we learned that in like 2nd or 3rd grade but i’m not sure? anyways, i said it would “limit” his vulnerability to injury not completely stop him from getting injured.
Whoever signs Reyes will have to hold their breath everytime he plays a day game after a night game. If Reyes is going to have to be babied with a lot of off days in season just to prevent hammy issues, then will you be able to rely on him in the post season should you make it there?
Why not give the players union 50% of the revenue and then let them decide who gets what. We then see how well the union works, or is it everyone for themselves. Teams compete for players by having good organizations or some other way to be determined that proves to be equitable for all the teams, parity could be a reality. Then the minor league training and system becomes very important. Instruction is most valuable commodity. Players play better baseball. Teams invest money in teaching and preparing players for life after baseball, or life in baseball. The fan base becomes important in the equation.
Who has thoughts about what would be equitable under this system.