Jose Reyes rejoins Mets with both sides hoping for successful reunion
Jose Reyes is back where it all started, hoping to revive his career after an ugly offseason.
Shortly after clearing waivers on Saturday, he agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Mets. The team officially announced the deal Saturday afternoon and tweeted that Reyes will report to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Class A-Short Season affiliate of the Mets.
We have signed José Reyes to a minor league contract. He will report to the @BKCyclones. #Mets pic.twitter.com/ZlISifogm4
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 25, 2016
While Reyes is currently in the middle of a long-term deal he originally signed with the Marlins, the Mets will have to pay him a pro-rated amount of the league minimum salary (roughly $250,000).
Reyes originally signed with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1999 and played for them from 2003-2011.
The Colorado Rockies officially cut ties with Reyes, 33, on Thursday when faced with a deadline to either activate him or designate him for assignment. This past offseason, he was involved in a domestic violence incident with his wife that resulted in a 52-game suspension from Major League Baseball. Because of that suspension, Reyes has yet to play in the majors this season. The Rockies, who have moved on at shortstop with rookie Trevor Story, still must pay Reyes the roughly $40 million remaining on his contract.
Although he is back in familiar surroundings, the four-time All-Star shortstop might find himself at an unfamiliar position on the diamond. With third baseman David Wright perhaps out for the rest of the season after neck surgery, Reyes likely will help fill the void at the hot corner despite never playing there in his major-league career.
The Mets are hoping Reyes can jumpstart an offense that ranks 28th in the majors in runs per game (3.71) and 24th in on-base percentage (.308) -- just as he did in his first stint with the team.
Prior to the 2012 season, Reyes signed six-year, $106 million contract with the Miami Marlins as a free agent. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays after one season with the Marlins and then was dealt to the Rockies in July of last season.
In other Mets news, the team optioned 23-year-old left fielder Michael Conforto to Triple-A and promoted outfield prospect Brandon Nimmo to their major-league roster on Saturday.
