The Miami Marlins and now-former New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes have agreed to a six-year, $106 million contract, pending a physical.
Reyes has been the talk of the free-agent market, along with Cardinals’ 1B Albert Pujols and Brewers’ 1B Prince Fielder. The agreement does not have a no-trade clause, which has been an issue with the Marlins and other free agents, such as Rangers’ LHP CJ Wilson; the Fish are trying to avoid such.
Reyes has played nine seasons, all with the New York Mets. The four-time All-Star’s 2011 year with New York had him at a .337 batting average, first place in the National League. 181 hits, only 41 strikeouts, 39 stolen bases, 101 runs, and a .384 on-base percentage in 126 games had Reyes at the top of all the leaderboards. Reyes will take over the shortstop position, as Hanley Ramirez will fill the void at third base.
This being the second big splash the Marlins have made (RHP Heath Bell, 3-year/$17M deal), the Winter Meetings are just underway in Dallas. Who’s next? LHP CJ Wilson has been on the radar, and reports tonight have said that the Fish are the favorites when it comes to LHP Mark Buehrle. Defected Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has also been in contact with the Fish, but I believe that they won’t go after him now after the Reyes signing and the fact that they have good depth in center field, and have no need for a right fielder or left fielder.
But I’m interested to see how picking up starting pitching will be. It appears that Buehrle and Wilson want no-trade clauses, and what’s been said (even said tonight by SI.com’s Jon Heyman) is that the Fish refuse to do no-trade clauses. I think the Fish reel in one of those, and personally, I believe it’ll be Buehrle. But who knows, all of this will likely be decided during the annual Winter Meetings, which begin tonight. Hard to believe that we’re going places with this, next year is really going to be something. These two big moves are the key elements; all we need is a solid starter, preferably a left-handed one, and maybe a trade for another starter afterward. Unless you trust Chris Volstad. Which nobody does.
Just looking at a probable 2012 lineup gives me the chills now. Bring on the Winter Meetings.
-Derek (Source: FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal [Twitter, FOXSports.com])