MLB: Five Potential Landing Spots for Jose Reyes

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Where will former MLB All-Star Jose Reyes land after being designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies?

Jose Reyes is hardly the player he once was. At 32 years old, he’s gone from a player with the ability to steal 50 or more bases in a season to someone who swiped just 24 last year. His defense has fallen off, as has his ability to get on base. Most notably, Reyes just got done serving a 51-game suspension for domestic violence – a public relations nightmare for any MLB organization, and a moral issue for many clubs as well.

Even with his issues on and off the field, someone will take him – right? Let’s take a look at five potential outcomes for Reyes:

The New York Yankees

The Yankees have struggled to fill their infield holes since Derek Jeter‘s departure in 2014. The acquisition of Didi Gregorius prior to the start of 2015, as well as the trade for Starlin Castro this past winter, have both had disappointing results. Gregorius batted just .265 last season, although he’s improved to a .732 OPS in 2016. He also isn’t as fleet of foot as most shortstops, having only 11 stolen bases in 410 career games.

While Gregorius is certainly not Derek Jeter, Castro has been even less impressive at second base. He’s posted a .250 average and a .691 OPS through 68 games as a Yankee. So far, his bat has been no match for predecessor Robinson Cano’s. The Yankees’ middle infield was so good for so long, with Cano and Jeter being an All-Star duo both in the field and at the plate. It’s made two relatively average players seem in need of an upgrade.

If Reyes could return to form, he would be a good remedy for their infield issues, and the short fences at Yankee Stadium might allow him to rediscover his power-hitting abilities. Reyes has had double-digit home runs in six seasons, including two seasons with the Mets in which he hit over 15 homers. Focusing on the long ball would be a good way to compensate for his decline in speed, and the Yankees might be the right team to make that transition with.

The Yankees have already taken on Aroldis Chapman, so it shows they have no moral issue with acquiring a player with a recent domestic violence suspension.

But… So far, New York has said that they have no interest in Reyes. Perhaps watching the continued struggles of Castro and Gregorius may change their mind.

Next: A Reunion With His Old Team

The New York Mets

On the opposite side of New York, the Mets are quite familiar with Reyes. While many Mets fans take issue with his off-field choices, there are still plenty of others who would love to see Reyes back in their colors, regardless of his actions.

During his time in New York, the shortstop was a four-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger recipient and a batting title winner. He led the league in stolen bases three times, and was easily one of the hottest young infielders in the game.

The current version of Reyes would not be an upgrade over anyone in the Mets’ middle infield. Second baseman Neil Walker has an .812 OPS this season, and even struggling shortstop Asdrubal Cabrerea has posted better numbers than the ones that Reyes owned last season. The Mets also recently traded for Kelly Johnson to reinforce their utility position, filling their need for a backup.

The only option that seems like it would work here is if Reyes were called on to replace the injured David Wright at third base. After undergoing neck surgery, Wright is expected to be out long-term, most likely for the remainder of the year.

Reyes has stated that he would prefer to play for his former team, and he isn’t opposed to moving to third base in order to make it happen.

But… In return, the Mets have been rumored to be less than enthusiastic about a reunion. However, if his agents can talk New York into taking a chance on him, it could be just what he needs to get back into form.

Next: The Defending Champions

The Kansas City Royals

The Royals have an outstanding defender at shortstop in Alcides Escobar, but second base has been a bit murkier for the world champs. Recently, Kansas City released Omar Infante (who, incidentally, was at one point leading AL second basemen in the All-Star voting process, because Royals fans don’t understand the concept of “All-Stars”), leaving a void at second base that has been filled by a pair of inexperienced players.

ESPN’s Alex Cora reported that the Royals had inquired about Reyes as a second base option, but Jerry Crasnick quickly added that there’s no reason to think that it was anything more than “due diligence” – rookie Whit Merrifield and Christian Colon have been satisfactory so far. It’s not like Infante had been good for some time, so the Royals were fairly prepared for this.

Still, the Royals are in a close battle with the Cleveland Indians for a division title, and they’ll likely need to make some changes to beat out the first place Indians. Reyes will come cheaply – a key factor for a mid-size market like Kansas City – given that the Rockies are stuck footing the bill on him. He could be a good veteran addition, especially as the league begins to adjust to Merrifield and he comes back to earth.

But… The biggest problem here is that the Royals are a relatively young team and rely heavily on defense to help them succeed. Reyes has tailed off defensively over the last few seasons, and in a big park like Kauffman Stadium, his bat may not play as well either. If the Royals change their mind and take a serious interest in Reyes, it would be a surprise if he was much of an upgrade over Infante.

Still, Kansas City is anxious to repeat their championship, and Reyes is an inexpensive addition. They may be willing to take a risk – and cut him loose if it doesn’t pan out.

Next: The Worst Team in the League

The Atlanta Braves

When you’re unequivocally the worst team in your league, the answer to any question is, “Why not?”

Sure, the Minnesota Twins are bad, but they’ve been bad for so long that they hardly count. The Atlanta Braves, on the other hand, are a disaster – a disaster in need of a shortstop, to be exact.

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons was a brilliant defensive infielder for the Braves, but they dealt him to the Los Angeles Angels as part of their rebuilding efforts. In turn, they’ve been using Erick Aybar in the infield. Aybar is batting just .206, with a lowly .515 OPS. He’s swiped two bases and knocked in 10 runs this year.

Surely, Reyes could do better than that. Even though he’s on the decline, it wouldn’t be hard to top a .262 OBP. Reyes would absolutely be an upgrade for Atlanta.

The Braves are also a good fit in terms of the PR hit that whichever organization that signs Reyes will take. No one cares about the 2016 Braves, to the point that they’re selling monthly passes for the remainder of the season in an effort to bribe fans into attending games. If they signed Reyes, he could fly under the radar as he tries to rebuild his career. A large donation to a domestic violence prevention organization and a quality second half of the season later, and Reyes might even have earned enough respect to sign with a team that isn’t terrible next year.

But… Nothing, really. This is a good fit for both the player and the team, so the Braves seem like the most realistic landing spot for Reyes. While the others make sense in terms of position need, the Braves have the least to lose if he doesn’t pan out in the field – or if they face backlash for his character issues.

Next: The Last Alternative

Independent League Baseball – or Nowhere At All

Yes, there are other teams to discuss. The White Sox just released Jimmy Rollins, for instance. Other clubs could use a veteran backup, and if they can get Reyes for the league minimum, it’s not unrealistic to think that someone will be willing to take a flyer on him.

But the truth is, Reyes comes with baggage, and you can only get away with baggage if your skills outweigh the bad publicity.

More from Call to the Pen

“But Aroldis Chapman got picked up by the Yankees,” you might say. “It’s not as though teams aren’t willing to look the other way.”

That’s true. But teams are a lot more willing to pretend a very recent incident of domestic violence is a thing of the past when a player can throw 100 MPH or bat .300, compared to when he’s an aging speedster who is well past his prime and on a precipitous decline.

When a player’s skill set isn’t worth the risk, it’s easy to claim that one is taking the moral high ground. If Reyes was still a superstar, Colorado would not have released him on principle. There have even been rumors that they didn’t want him in the first place, making this a good excuse to dump him.

Since he has become a below-average player, plenty of other clubs will decline to take on the headache that comes with a player who has a reputation like the one Reyes acquired this off-season. He could be forced to sign with an Independent League team, take a minor league deal, or simply retire.

Next: More Even-Year Magic for Giants?

But… Once the trade deadline has passed, an injury to a contending team’s shortstop could easily result in a big league job for Jose Reyes. If he wants to keep playing baseball, he may just need to be more patient.

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