Jose Reyes and the New York Mets finalized a $2 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows him to earn an additional $500,000 in bonuses.
“This is my home,” Reyes said in a statement Friday. “I’m excited to be back with a great group of teammates. I will do everything I can to help us get back to the post-season.”
Now 34, Reyes was a four-time All-Star shortstop with the Mets from 2003-11 and left after winning the NL batting title to sign a $106 million, six-year contract with Miami. He was traded in November 2012 to Toronto and in July 2015 to Colorado, which released him in 2016 after Reyes served a 59-day domestic violence suspension.
While this deal will certainly not quiet the critics of the Mets’ economical approach to roster-building, a Mets source said that bringing back Reyes is not just a cheap, quick fix. He said it will not stop them from potentially signing another free agent to start at second. They see this signing as insurance at second base and possibly a switch-hitting utility infielder off the bench.
The Mets could also sign a third baseman and move Asdrubal Cabrera back to second. While Mike Moustakas is still available on the free agent market, he reportedly has a large multi-year deal on the table. The Mets have been in touch with former Reds and Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier.
Based on how stridently they defended their approach earlier this week, the Mets will go for the more economical route.
Earlier this week, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and GM Sandy Alderson defended their approach to building a team against the growing cries of penny pinching by their fans.
The criticism is they are not spending like the big-market team that, in fact, they are. The last time they were among the top MLB teams in spending was 2011, when they were fifth with a $142 million Opening Day payroll. They began last season ranked 12th at $154 million.
With the signing of Reyes, their estimated payroll is now at $140 million heading into spring training.
