Colorado Rockies’ Jose Reyes needs to sort out priorities
By Tim Haberin
When Jose Reyes was shipped to the Colorado Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal, there was a sense that he wouldn’t stay in his new home for very long. Switching uniforms is certainly nothing new for the shortstop, who has played for three different clubs in his last four seasons. For a rebuilding team like the Rockies, a player like Reyes doesn’t really factor into the organization’s long-term plans.
Trade speculation cropped up after the 32-year-old cleared waivers earlier this month, but at this point it appears highly unlikely that Colorado will be able to flip their recent acquisition so quickly. Reyes, however, has made it abundantly clear that a potential move is at the forefront of his mind.
"“You come from a ballclub that was competing for a spot in the playoffs. And you come to a club in last place. You think about that. I’m at the point in my career that I want to win. I say it over and over. I want to win. I don’t want to spend the rest of my career on a last-place team. That’s not the kind of player I feel like I am.”"
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That’s all well and good; most players will tell you they want to play for a winning team. But Reyes’ comments are somewhat eye roll-inducing considering the kind of season he’s having.
Through 91 games he is slashing .279/.311/.385 with six home runs and 41 RBI. His .695 OPS is his lowest since 2005 when he posted a .687 mark. Long valued for his speed, Reyes has swiped an unremarkable 19 bags on the year and been caught six times (and he’s just 3-for-7 in stolen base attempts since moving to Colorado).
As with many fleet-of-foot players, losing a step or two can be damning. In 2011, a whopping 60% of Reyes’ bunts went for base hits. That number has dropped steadily over the years, and this season he is bunting for a hit only 8.3% of the time.
Another trademark of Reyes’ career has been an inability to stay healthy. He missed about a month beginning in late April due to a cracked rib and has averaged only 115 games played per season over the past five years.
Players are naturally confident in their own abilities, but Reyes seems to think he is still the player who led the league in steals for three consecutive seasons (202 total from 2005-2007) or won the batting title in 2011 (.337 BA) with the Mets. Given his declining form, he’s probably not the hottest commodity right now on the trade market.
His comments about wanting to play for a winner also stand in stark contrast to his situation only a few years ago. Prior to the 2012 season, Reyes inked a six-year, $106 million contract with the Marlins, who were coming off a 72-90 record and last-place finish in the NL East the year before. Granted, the franchise was spending a sizable amount of money ahead of its “Miami” rebranding in an attempt to appear more competitive, but if winning was truly Reyes’ top priority, he likely had better options.
That contract will now be an obstacle for any team interested in dealing for Reyes. The shortstop is on the books for two more years at $22 million per, along with a $4 million buyout for 2018. Taking into account his age, flagging performance and injury risk, it’s difficult to see any legitimate contender willing to make that kind of investment unless the Rockies pick up a good chunk of the tab.
It’s understandable that Reyes is probably looking at Toronto right now and feeling envious. It’s understandable that he isn’t head-over-heels about the possibility of spending the next couple years in Colorado. Publically playing the part of the sour grape, however, isn’t going to motivate a top club to trade for him.
The best way for Reyes to increase the chance of a move elsewhere in the future is by committing himself to helping the Rockies in the present. Keep your head down and be a good soldier, even as the losses pile up. Focus on improving your own game and finishing the season strong. The current version of Jose Reyes won’t get the trade market buzzing, but a seemingly rejuvenated one could attract some interest this winter. Making that kind of rebound should involve significantly less grumbling in the press.