Don't trade Reyes

[Guest attgig]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16081241&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_16081241&v=3

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110620&content_id=20761300&vkey=news_nym&c_id=mlb

nice little article about the man's 3baggers.

NEW YORK -- It takes 11 seconds. The game's leading hitter, Jose Reyes, crushes a baseball. One. He watches it fly Two, three. Down goes his head as he rounds first base. Four. By this point, he is moving, really moving, still accelerating. Five. Now he's flying. Six, seven. He's rounding second base now, heading for third. Eight. In comes the throw. Nine. In comes Reyes, headfirst to the bag. Ten. Bang, bang. Safe. Eleven. Then Reyes pops up from third base, claps his batting gloves together and raises his right arm over his head. Some of the three dozen Mets players and coaches in his dugout -- many of them tenants of the top step before the ball even lands -- salute him in kind. It is a triple. It is a high-speed car chase. It is one of the most exciting plays in baseball, courtesy one of its most exciting players. It is getting ridiculous. "He's hit so many triples," teammate Willie Harris said, "to the point where it's raising questions." * * * Twelve times this season, Reyes has tripled. Twelve times he has performed his headline act, buzzing around the bases in approximately 11 seconds. In what could ultimately become his final half-season with the Mets, Reyes is submitting one of the most remarkable half-seasons in franchise history, transcending the usual level of superstar and entering that rare echelon above. Leading the National League in hits (103), batting average (.341) and multi-hit games (35, more than any shortstop at this point of the season since 1920), Reyes has drawn the most attention for his triples -- and for good reason. He is on pace for 27 of them, which would rank seventh in Major League history and place him among the league's foremost triples hitters since the end of the dead-ball era. Since 1926, no Major Leaguer has hit more than 23 triples in a season. Since 1950, only two -- Curtis Granderson for the Tigers in 2007 and Lance Johnson for the Mets in 1996 -- have hit more than 20. Reyes is threatening those standards in part due to transcendental skills, in part due to his home ballpark and in part due to chance. "The funny thing about triples is they just kind of happen," said Granderson, who hit 23 of them in 2007 but no more than 13 in any other season. "There's nothing you can do mechanically to go ahead and hit a triple." The only thing a hitter can control, Granderson said, is his baserunning effort -- and Reyes already maximizes that with regularity, leading Mets general manager Sandy Alderson to note: "I wouldn't call anything he does an aberration." Instead, Reyes makes his own luck, as the adage goes. Consider his most recent triple. Shooting a low fly ball to shallow center field in Atlanta on Thursday, Reyes watched the ball glance off center fielder Jordan Schafer's glove and fall to the grass. Though the ball came to rest mere feet from the spot of Schafer's dive, Reyes never slowed, accelerating past second base and on to third. Unable to slap Schafer with an error, Turner Field's official scorer ruled it a triple. Mostly, though, Reyes' three-base hits have emerged from a different -- and rather consistent -- mold. Batting left-handed, Reyes shoots a ball into Citi Field's right-center field gap, between two outfielders. He begins thinking triple when he rounds first base, usually arriving at third base several seconds later without much issue. "With the kind of speed that I have, I know that I'm going to make it there easy," Reyes said, "no matter how hard I hit the ball." Throughout his career, Reyes can recall only one attempted triple that went awry, when Alfonso Soriano, then with the Nationals, gunned him down in 2006. At the time, it appeared as though Reyes would develop into a perennial 20-triple threat, using both his speed and Shea Stadium's spacious outfield gaps to his advantage. However, after he tripled 19 times in 2008, injuries began to hamper him, preventing him from exploiting the even more generous dimensions of his new home park. Reyes found himself unable to take advantage of Citi Field in the same way that Granderson abused Comerica Park back in 2007. Until now. * * * From every last brick to every last blade of grass, Citi Field has always been uniquely suited to Reyes. Its outfield gaps rank among the largest in baseball, extending from the 408-foot mark in dead center field to 415 feet in right-center. Just as the park has frustrated right-handed power hitters such as David Wright and Jason Bay, taunting them with its oversized dimensions, it has beckoned Reyes with its promise of triples. In many ways, Citi Field is anomalous, given its high walls and quirky outfield dimensions. And that has certainly played a role in the frequency of Reyes' triples, not only allowing a greater percentage of them to fall safely on the outfield grass, but also ensuring that only a few of his line drives will clear the fence for homers. Indeed, Reyes is hitting home runs less than one percent of the time, the lowest rate of his nine-year career. His rate of home-runs-per-fly-balls is below three percent for the first time since 2004, when he owned a skinnier body and lacked his current pop. Most of the shortstop's other offensive ratios currently fall in line with his career norms, save one: he is striking out significantly less often than ever before. That has allowed him to put more balls in play, which in turn has translated into more triples. As in most areas of the game, some of that is due to luck and will level out over time. Some is due to Reyes' otherworldly run at the plate. And some is due to Citi Field, which harkens back to older stadiums with more spacious -- and, in some cases seemingly limitless -- dimensions. Though there is no sure way to measure a ballpark's ability to produce triples, ESPN offers an attempt with its "Park Factor" index, which quantifies stadium tendencies by comparing a team's power-hitting statistics at home and on the road. Citi Field ranks sixth in its triples factor this season, no doubt in large part due to Reyes. It was also sixth last season and seventh in 2009, consistently ranking behind Coors Field in Colorado (which, contrary to popular perception, boasts larger dimensions than those of Citi). In Granderson's view, ballparks do play a significant role. Whereas Comerica's deep gaps and ample foul ground once gave Granderson time to run the bases, Yankee Stadium has afforded him no such luxuries. As a result, Granderson hit merely seven triples last season, his first in New York. But ballparks aren't everything. Alderson calls his shortstop's stadium splits a "casual correlation" and Reyes understands that Citi has helped to some extent. Still, he is not sold on the magnitude of its influence, dismissing the fact that 10 of his 12 triples have been hit at home. "It does not matter where I play," Reyes said. "It's nothing to do with the ballpark because anywhere that I put it in the gap, I'm going to try to make it to third base." Even so, Reyes' snug fit in Queens is something worth noting from a front-office perspective. Just as the Yankees have traditionally loaded up on left-handed sluggers, the Mets have made pitching and left-handed hitting their priorities, catering to the park in which they play. Their two most prominent free-agent acquisitions last winter were fly-ball pitchers, and their first 14 selections in this month's First-Year Player Draft were either pitchers, left-handed hitters or switch-hitters. Presumably, catering to Citi Field would also mean considering Reyes when deciding whether or not to move back or scale down the outfield fences -- a perennial discussion since the ballpark's opening in 2009. Talks have again taken place this year, but Alderson said that team officials have not specifically mentioned Reyes in their discussions. Some part of that may be a reflection of uncertainty. * * * At least lately, no review of Reyes seems complete without a prognostication of his future. Given the shortstop's impending free agency, many around the team believe there is little chance he will still be with the Mets come August; others think he will at least last the season. Either way, whisking Reyes from Citi Field would mean supplanting a generational talent from a ballpark uniquely suited to his abilities. Other stadiums around the league, such as Comerica, Coors Field and AT&T Park in San Francisco, could have similar effects, but Reyes admits he has grown comfortable at Citi -- he's hitting .375 at home this season. It is in Queens, after all, where he has launched most of his triples, his 11-second fluorescent highlights. Unlike home runs, which create a sudden and impulsive frenzy, triples crescendo. The crowd begins to buzz on contact, increasing its volume as Reyes rounds second. By that time, the line between fans and teammates often blurs. "There's nothing better," Mets outfielder Angel Pagan said, "than seeing a fast guy run fast." In terms of sheer excitement, Reyes said, triples can be more thrilling than home runs, more exhilarating than stolen bases, more stirring than nearly any other play in baseball. "A triple's exciting, man," Reyes said. "People love it. And I love it, too." The 11 seconds of a triple, he knows, can define reputations, contracts and careers. For Reyes, those 11 seconds may have the power to do all three.

he would be at 13 if not for the blown call on april 27th.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14238339&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_14238339&v=3

[ashie62]

Chicks dig the stand up Triple.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Allen Barra chimes in:

Jose Reyes: A Franchise Player the Mets Can't Possibly Replace? By Allen Barra Mon., Jun. 20 2011 at 2:40 PM ?Judging from the enthusiasm being displayed on the radio call-in shows, Mets fans may be putting a little too much stock in Jose Reyes' resounding statement on Friday that he's not going to go with Scott Boras as his agent in upcoming contract negotiations. That is, if they are assuming that because he's not signing with Boras, he's going to remain a Met. Yes, players have made promises in the past and then switched agents, but I don't recall any being quite as emphatic as Reyes: "No chance. I am happy with my agent." That's because he knows his agent, Peter E. Greenberg, is very good and has had much more experience dealing with the Wilpons than Boras has. Reyes is also smart enough to understand that it's the attractiveness of the client that makes for the deal, not the agent. Or simply put, Jose knows that given the kind of year he's having and considering the sparseness of available talent at perhaps the game's key defensive position, he brings a lot to the table for negotiations with any team. In fact, he brings much more to the Mets' table than they're likely going to want to deal with. There's been some recent talk of the Mets signing Reyes for a second straight three-year contract extension before the July 31 trade deadline -- or even before the end of the season -- but as Tyler Kepner puts it in Saturday's New York Times, "The Mets may stay close enough to contention that they will keep Reyes ... But even if they offered Reyes a new contract before the end of the season, why would he accept? Why, indeed. How can Reyes possibly find out what he's worth if he doesn't wait until he's a free agent and all interested parties -- i.e., the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees (whom I still insist could shock everyone on this) or possibly even the Brewers, who, though they don't have the revenue of a "big market" team, may have enough to put in a bid for the one player who could put them over the top. (And some are making the same argument for the Rays.) What has changed in the past few weeks about the Mets financial situation that would suddenly make Fred Wilpon eat his words and decide that Jose is worth (as he told the New Yorker a few weeks ago) Carl Crawford money. (Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 mil deal with the Red Sox last winter.) There's something else for the Mets front office to think about. In Sunday's Daily News, Tim Smith spoke to the Mets' all-time greatest franchise player, Tom Seaver -- whom, lest we forget, they allowed to depart New York. (Tom Terrific was in town for Mets-Angels.) Seaver compared Reyes to two of the old Big Red Machine's major stars, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan: "He's that level of player, but what are you gonna replace him with?" Well, I dunno, Two weeks ago Reyes was having a fine season, but he wasn't leading the National League in hitting and nobody was comparing him to Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan (though I think for much if [sic] his career he's been at or near their level). What a difference a hot dozen or so games and 20 points on your batting average can make. The point is this: Who says the Mets are really serious about having any "franchise player" at all? What are the indications that they're serious about even having a franchise? If they are in as deep a financial hole as they appear to be, they're not going to be bidding for any other free agents besides Reyes, which means, given the apparent dearth of minor league prospects, they plan on taking two or three years off before they really think about building a contender. Why then would Jose want to stick around on a mediocre team that has little chance of making the playoffs even if the Mets did meet his asking price? "The Mets," writes Smith, "have to decide whether their championship hopes rest with Reyes or the pieces they can assemble without him." I'd say that's putting it all too grandly. I'd say what the Mets have to do first is decide whether they really have any "championship hopes" with or without Reyes. If the Mets are serious about being contenders any time in the next three-four years, then there isn't any question that they had better make every effort to convince Jose Reyes that Carl Crawford is soon going to be wishing he was getting Jose Reyes money.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Here's an overlooked category that Reyes has been leading the league in for most of this season:



The media should take note.

[Guest Edgy DC]

There's a lot of dubious stuff and opinion stated as fact in there. "Judging from the enthusiasm being displayed on the radio call-in shows...." There's a weak lede.

"...the sparseness of available talent at perhaps the game's key defensive position...." Is it any more sparse than anywhere else? He's having an MVP year, so he's be a catch at any position. And what's with "perhaps"? Almost no study would conclude that shortstop trumps catcher in defensive contributions.

"How can Reyes possibly find out what he's worth if he doesn't wait until he's a free agent and all interested parties -- i.e., the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees (whom I still insist could shock everyone on this)...." Why would anyone (much less "everyone") be shocked that the Yankees would pursue a very good player in the midst of a career season?

As for the Seaver thing, his full comment was not to deal him without a plan to go forward. Well, sure. And I'm sure the Mets will have a plan and they'll convince themselves it's a solid one even if they have to delude themselves.

"Why then would Jose want to stick around on a mediocre team that has little chance of making the playoffs even if the Mets did meet his asking price?" Come on. Really, Allen?

Barra has written some great stuff (thank you, Village Voice), but this is just tabloid trade deadline slavering. Hype mongering.

[Ceetar]

True, but still, any article raving about Reyes is at least not completely worthless.

[Guest attgig]

wow, front page of cnn.com in the list of latest news is a link:
- Most compelling everyday MLB star SI
leads me to:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/06/21/jose.reyes.mets/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Reyes just what game, and Mets, need but his future is a mystery At a time when baseball has a shortage of compelling players -- you'd have to get through Justin Verlander, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay and Brian Wilson before you found such an everyday player -- shortstop Jose Reyes of the New York Mets has emerged as exactly what the game needs: equal parts excitement and mystery. The excitement is easy to see. Reyes leads the National League in batting, hits, triples and runs and is second in stolen bases -- making him the poster player in this age when offense and slugging have been rolled back to levels not seen in almost two decades. The mystery of Reyes is what makes him the most compelling position player in the game. Will he be traded? Can the Mets afford to re-sign him? Can they afford not to re-sign him? And, most intriguing of all, is he really this good? What we're watching is the right player at the right time just now entering his prime and playing at full health. But keep this in mind, too: Reyes is 28, will reach 1,000 games played next week, gets on base over his career at a rate barely better than the league average (.339-.336) and has played 140 games in a season just four times. After a great body of work to judge him, he suddenly seems so much more valuable because of a ridiculously hot stretch of 23 games in which he has put up a slash line of .402/.431/.637. And every night he seems to be standing on third base before you can blink. "Right now he's like [barry] Bonds or [Albert] Pujols when those guys are hot," said one scout after filing his report on Reyes and the Mets. "You basically have to avoid him whenever you can, because he's on absolutely everything. It doesn't matter what you throw him. "He's healthy and really focused right now. [Manager] Terry Collins deserves a lot of credit for having that team play hard. Carlos Beltran is playing hard. He's played himself into a valuable trade chip. And Reyes is playing as hard as anyone." What every team must decide is whether this is just the beginning of his greatness that will be worth more than $100 million, or a window of heightened performance and focus fostered by playing in a contract year. Is he Jimmy Rollins, a championship shortstop with an MVP in his near future, or another J.D. Drew, Adrian Beltre or A.J. Burnett, with his best baseball coming in a salary drive? The first team that must make that determination is his own, with New York general manager Sandy Alderson making the final call. "People keep saying, 'You have to trade him, you have to trade him,"' said one club source. "That's not the case at all. Sandy really only now is getting to know the person and the player. I'm sure there will come a point where we sit down and see what Jose wants. But there's nothing that says we won't try to keep the guy." As it happened, Reyes took his game to another level once owner Fred Wilpon was quoted in The New Yorker saying that Reyes won't get Carl Crawford money. The Red Sox gave Crawford $142 million over seven years last offseason. Said one NL executive, "Crawford wasn't worth that money, but he was worth that money to the Red Sox. It's Red Sox money. It's only a matter of one team deciding what a player is worth." Reyes has an argument to seek Crawford money. At 28, he is one year younger than when Crawford hit free agency and, unlike Crawford, he plays a premium position in the middle of the field. Otherwise, they are similar players. Take a look at how Reyes' career numbers today compare to those of Crawford as a free agent last year: Player Age BA/OBP/SLG OPS G R Crawford 29 .296/.337/.444 .781 1235 765 Reyes 28 .290/.339/.440 .779 993 688 There is only one scenario in which the Mets trade Reyes, and that is an overwhelming offer that is too good to pass up. The Mets have studied how the Red Sox have turned free-agent losses into draft picks (Pedro Martinez into Clay Buchholz, for instance) and to move Reyes would take nothing less than three top prospects, including one no-doubt first-round talent that is already major league ready. The Mets stand just five games out of the wild card. Their attendance is down 13 percent, representing a loss of 4,233 fans per game -- the biggest decline in baseball except for the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York still has 33 home games to play after the July 31 trade deadline -- 41 percent of its gates. At a time when the cash-poor Wilpon is heavily dependent on gate receipts, can he afford to trade his best and most exciting player? There are two teams that play out of ballparks that influence every personnel decision from the draft all the way to the major league roster: the Padres and Mets. New York has to build a team around athletic players who can cover ground and don't rely on hitting flyballs. In short, it needs players just like Reyes. He is a career .320 hitter at Citi Field with a .375 OBP and .498 slugging percentage there in 123 games. In fact, Reyes has a higher slugging percentage at Citi Field than teammate David Wright, with nearly as many triples (18) as Wright has home runs (21). The minute the Mets lose Reyes, if they don't re-sign him, is the minute they start searching for someone exactly like Reyes to replace him. "I think they'll look at doing what they can to keep him," the scout said. "And if that's the case, then the guys they could trade are David Wright and Mike Pelfrey. I like Wright and he still has value. He's just beaten down by everything that's happened with that franchise and by the ballpark. He'll be a better player somewhere else." The Mets plan to spend between $100 million and $120 million on payroll in each of the next three years -- a cutback between 15 and 25 percent -- so re-signing Reyes would cause some roster pruning. That's one risk associated with keeping him. Another risk would be paying a speed player great sums of guaranteed money through about age 34. The Mets would be banking on Reyes keeping his legs healthy -- the key to his value. Remember, the Cubs gave Alfonso Soriano $136 million before the 2007 season under the evaluation that he could play center field and steal bases in addition to providing power. He quickly devolved into a poor defensive corner outfielder who stopped stealing bases. The market for Reyes is bound to be a good one. The Giants could be a stealth player, with $21 million coming off the payroll this year (but Lincecum due for a big raise) and the Barry Zito contract coming off after 2013. The Tigers, Orioles, Twins, Mariners, Angels, Reds, Nationals, Cardinals and Brewers all will have money to spend. At some point next month the Mets are likely to engage Reyes in discussions, if only to gauge his interest in remaining with the club as weighed against the chance to shop his services. Meanwhile, they get to watch him for another six weeks -- does he stay healthy? Does he continue to hit 54 points above his lifetime average? -- and wait for other clubs to approach them about possible trades. The Mets are under no pressure to trade Reyes. The pressure comes from whether they want to make a leadoff hitter their franchise player, and just how much of a cost that commitment will require.

didn't expect Reyes to be off the first page of cnn.com

[Guest Edgy DC]

"Right now he's like [barry] Bonds or [Albert] Pujols when those guys are hot," said one scout after filing his report on Reyes and the Mets. "You basically have to avoid him whenever you can, because he's on absolutely everything. It doesn't matter what you throw him."

Now, slow down, sailor.

[Guest attgig]

just noticed this part:

"He's healthy and really focused right now. [Manager] Terry Collins deserves a lot of credit for having that team play hard. Carlos Beltran is playing hard. He's played himself into a valuable trade chip. And Reyes is playing as hard as anyone."

[Ceetar]

a lot of misinformation in there.

the payroll quotes. That Reyes has only been really good for 27 games. That it started when the Wilpon article came out. Cites 'only 4' seasons of over 140 (and it's over 153) games like he's hurt more often than not but really that's 4/7 and last year he played 133 and would've probably hit 140 except for a weird health thing and a mismanaged injury by his dope of a manager.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, it's Verducci.

[metirish]

@AdamRubinESPN
Adam Rubin
Mets announce they approached Reyes' agent. Reyes said he's not interested talking in-season.

[metirish]

David Waldstein
Mets were prepared to make an offer to Reyes, but Reyes agents said not to

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ooooooh, SNAP!

I'm not rooting for this, but wouldn't it be something if he pulled a hammy tonight and missed the next seven weeks?

Would that be irony? (I'm not quite sure.)

[TransMonk]

Trade that money-grubbing bum!!!

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ooooooh, SNAP! I'm not rooting for this, but wouldn't it be something if he pulled a hammy tonight and missed the next seven weeks? Would that be irony? (I'm not quite sure.)

I had similar thoughts

No surprise here as Reyes said it in ST that he wouldn't talk contract during season, no surprise but a little more hope gone all the same.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I imagine the Mets let this be known to soften the blow in the event he gets dealt in a few weeks -- that, and maybe to stop getting asked about the contract every damn day.

No surprises here, right? I mean, he's still gonna go where they pay him most.

[metirish]

No doubt Bucket " hey , we had a GREAT deal on the table and well Jose and his people didn't wanna see it, we tried"

[TransMonk]

All the Mets can do is try...which they did and they will...but they will most likely be out-bid.

I'm still opposed to trading him unless we get value back...otherwise, I'm all for the 50 doubles, 20 triples, 50 steals ride for 2011 and the two draft picks.

That said...my optimism for him returning in 2012 is all but gone.

[Guest attgig]

i wonder if he would keep that stance if there was a trade. ie, trade, pending a 2 day negotiating window btw the new team and reyes.

[TransMonk]

metsblog wrote: ...according to Dunn, Reyes said once again he wants to finish his career with the Mets � he just doesn�t want any distractions during the season.

Isn't this a distraction every single day? What exactly does he have to negotiate? He's got an agent. If he were to sign an extention, the distration would go away.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's how I see it too. The agent talks to the club, and he either comes to Jose and says "We have a deal" or he doesn't?

[Ceetar]

...according to Dunn, Reyes said once again he wants to finish his career with the Mets � he just doesn�t want any distractions during the season. Isn't this a distraction every single day? What exactly does he have to negotiate? He's got an agent. If he were to sign an extention, the distration would go away.

Monday: Martino: "Hey Reyes, how are the negotiations coming?"
Tuesday: Rubin: "Hey Reyes, how are the negotiations coming?"
Agent: "Hey Jose, Alderson's floating the idea of an option year based on games played from 2015-2017. What do you think?"
Wednesday: "Martino: "Reyes, do you think you'll sign with the Mets by the All-Star Break?"
Agent: "Alderson seems open to the idea of bonuses based on hits milestones, 2000, 2500. Sound good?"
Thursday, off day, "Martino, Rubin, Popper, Lennon, etc: Someone said that you're nearing a deal. Is this true? More or less than Crawford? How do Fred's comments make you feel now?"



The only real thing this changes is it tells the media to STFU. for a day or so. Doesn't mean Alderson can't write up a number, put it in a text, and send it to Reyes' agent.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I wonder if with today's news that Reyes won't entertain contract talks until after season's end, we are now past the rubicon where the Wilpons' self-centered actions to retain majority ownership of the Mets are inconsistent with the well being of the team itself. If it should become known that Einhorn would otherwise be willing to pay for Reyes' next Mets contract but for the fact that Einhorn is primarily hoping that the Mets flounder enough to force the Wilpons to sell their shares of the team -- then maybe it's time for the Wilpons to sell now. Not that this would ever happen, I know. Someone's gonna have to pry the Wilpons' cold and clammy death grip from the Mets before they're gotten rid of.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's how I see it too. The agent talks to the club, and he either comes to Jose and says "We have a deal" or he doesn't?

I agree. I'd guess that Reyes "no contract talks" is just a negotiating tactic.

[ashie62]

He can be traded now.

I almost hope the fucker pulls a hammy.

[RealityChuck]

I don't see any reason to trade him. No one is going to give the team anyone who's going to be any better than the draft choices the Mets will get if he signs elsewhere. There's no one to play shortstop this year, anyway (if another team has a solid shortstop prospect, why aren't they playing him instead of trading for Reyes?). Wait until the end of the season, give Jose a legitimate offer, and take the draft picks if he doesn't like it.

People say "there is no such thing as a pitching prospect." I'll add that there's no such thing as a prospect. Its always a crapshoot until the player gets to the major leagues. So why throw away this season for a couple of players who project to be utility men at best?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

RealityChuck wrote: I don't see any reason to trade him. No one is going to give the team anyone who's going to be any better than the draft choices the Mets will get if he signs elsewhere.

How do you know if you don't shop him?

There's no one to play shortstop this year, anyway (if another team has a solid shortstop prospect, why aren't they playing him instead of trading for Reyes?).

Tejada can play the position.

Wait until the end of the season, give Jose a legitimate offer, and take the draft picks if he doesn't like it.

Fine with me but I'd exlore all possibilities. Compensation for departing FA's may look different by this winter too, it's certainly no sure thing either.

People say "there is no such thing as a pitching prospect." I'll add that there's no such thing as a prospect. Its always a crapshoot until the player gets to the major leagues. So why throw away this season for a couple of players who project to be utility men at best?

[Guest Edgy DC]

RealityChuck wrote: I don't see any reason to trade him. No one is going to give the team anyone who's going to be any better than the draft choices the Mets will get if he signs elsewhere.

I don't know why that's such a certainty. It happens every year.

There's no one to play shortstop this year, anyway...

Sure there is. He's playing second right now.

...(if another team has a solid shortstop prospect, why aren't they playing him instead of trading for Reyes?).

I imagine such a person would be dealt because he isn't yet believed to be ready to consistently perform in the major leagues. Especially for a team with greater expectations than the mean. The Mets believed that about Melvin Mora and gave him up for Bordick.

Wait until the end of the season, give Jose a legitimate offer, and take the draft picks if he doesn't like it.

There's certainly motivation for both sides to think about trying to move more quickly.

People say "there is no such thing as a pitching prospect."

Who says that?

I'll add that there's no such thing as a prospect. Its always a crapshoot until the player gets to the major leagues.

It's a crapshoot in the big leagues too. But some bets are better than others. I don't get it. There's nothing mutually exclusive about prospect and crapshoot. Nobody's perfomance is guaranteed in advance. Until it happens, it exists as a matter of degrees of probabliity.

So why throw away this season for a couple of players who project to be utility men at best?

I don't think trading players is throwing them away. I don't think the Mets would intend to trade him for players that project to be utility players at best, but rather only for players who they believe likely to be better than the players they would get in the draft, or they won't trade him at all.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, right now I'm hoping that the Mets sign Jose during the "Piazza Period" between the last game of the season and the day that everyone is free to negotiate with all players.

That's what I'm hoping.