The Kansas City Royals were reportedly looking to sign Jose Reyes to play second base.
The Colorado Rockies recently released Jose Reyes after he returned from his suspension for domestic violence, agreeing to pay nearly $40 million over the next two years for him to leave town.
A domestic violence charge is enough to ruin one’s reputation, but a player with Reyes’ skill set usually finds a way to play again, regardless of one’s views on the morality of such a decision.
One team reportedly looking at Reyes is the Kansas City Royals, according to a former teammate of his.
Baseball Insider for 1 day;
— Alex (@ac13alex) June 16, 2016
Sources: Royals 👀 José Reyes to play 2B.
Ok, back to be the ex-player who will be covering the @NCAACWS.
This news is interesting, although the legitimacy of the claim may have been taken down a few levels later on in the day Thursday.
#Royals have inquired on Jose Reyes, as @ac13alex tweeted. But Merrifield and Colon both playing well at 2B. Might just be due diligence.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) June 16, 2016
About those Jose Reyes rumors: simply not true. #Royals
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) June 16, 2016
Crasnick’s view makes more sense, as it may be smart for the Royals to get the fact they are looking at Reyes out there to gain a reaction toward the possible decision. But Flanagan follows up with an outright denial of the rumors.
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Signing a player charged with domestic violence is a tough move for a team in a PR sense, as some fans may speak out against such a decision.
Rumors of teams looking to sign Reyes will keep coming up, but it is unlikely he will find a way onto any roster in 2016.
The fact he was charged with the crime, along with the Rockies wanting him to leave town, makes it that much harder for a team to sign him so soon. The charges were dropped, but that does not lessen what he did.
Next: Cubs to call up Willson Contreras
As with most situations like this, a team will likely give him a look next season. Reyes is 33 years old and still has several good years of baseball left in him. He just needs to prove that he has become a better person after this year and not make any mistakes until then.