By C. Trent Rosecrans
The winter meetings don't officially start until Monday, but the hot stove heated up Sunday as free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes has agreed to terms with the Miami Marlins, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
Earlier Sunday, CBSSports.com senior writer Danny Knobler confirmed the Marlins had increased their offer to more than $100 million, pushing the pricetag beyond the budget of either the Mets or the Brewers, the two other teams with the most interst in the 28-year-old Reyes. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told repoters at the winter meetings in Dallas that if the report by Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com that the Marlins had offered Reyes a package worth $111 million, the Mets were out of the bidding. The deal would actually be worth $106 million over six years, but with a $5 million buyout of a $22 million option for a seventh year, according to the report. Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel reports the deal is six years worth $106 million, which would stay in line with Rojas' original report.
Sources had told CBSSports.com senior writer Scott Miller that the Marlins were optimistic they could sign Reyes and pushing the total value of the contract over the $100 million mark is likely just the trick to get him to sign on the dotted line. The team had previously offered him a six-year, $90 million contract, according to reports. If the Marlins have offerend him $111 million, that's probably too much for not only the Mets, but also the Brewers, who were also reportedly interested in Reyes. Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Mets and Brewers weren't willing to offer more than $75-$80 million over six years. Neither team was interested in going seven years for the 28-year-old because of his history of injuries.
Heyman also noted that the Marlins are expected to move Hanley Ramirez to third base to make room for Reyes.
Miami has already agreed to a contract with closer Heath Bell and seem ready to be the offseason's biggest spender as it readies to open its new ballpark in April. In the same report, Rojas says a source has told him the Marlins are the favorite for Albert Pujols if he doesn't return to the Cardinals -- although nobody seems toexpect that to really happen.
They won't, since offense puts butts in seats, but they should target pitching over Pujols. They should sign Buehrle and go after Matt Garza in trade. But Pujols is a name and has credibility with the Latino fanbase, and brings a big bat, and is exciting, etc...
If they somehow, which I still doubt, but somehow land Pujols as well, that's pretty impressive lineup. Pitching still average at best, but lots of scoring for lots of happy fans.
Last edited by JMarkJohns; 12-04-2011 at 11:20 PM.
glad dbacks did not get him
playing 100 games he is not worth it
pujols is next for the
marlins
Freaking Mets what a joke letting their best player walk. Fail sell the damn team.
Maybe if they didn't give a 31 year old Jason Bay $17 million a year, they could have afforded a 28 year old Reyes for about the same money but just a few more years.
Marlins have some interesting bats in their offense now. Reyes and Bonifacio at the top of the order with a ton of speed, Hanley, Stanton, Sanchez, LoMo, Infante. If Josh Johnson returns healthy and Anibal Sanchez continues to pitch as well as he did last season, they might be a much improved team. They could use one more quality starting pitcher and perhaps a lefty power bat, but they do have some interesting talent on the roster.
I agree they over spent on Bay but this is the NY Mets they have the money in revenue to do this. The built their freaking ball park to fit Jose's skills he was the face of their team. I feel bad for mets fans what a joke.
Reyes is polarizing though. Just look at what he did in the last game to win the batting le. There are things that make him unlikable. You could argue David Wright is really the face of the franchise. But that's what the Mets get for trying to be the Yankees.
JJ's health is a big question mark, but if he can ever stay healthy the guy is Cy Young-quality (yeah, I know lots of guys can say that). I like Sanchez and Nolasco because they're both solid and they chew up innings. I would love to bring Javier Vasquez back for another year. Lost in last year's collapse was his brilliant pitching in the 2nd half of the season...dude was lights-out.
If they can sign Buerhle then I'm definitely satisfied with our rotation. Signing Heath Bell might end up being our most underrated acquisition, cause our bullpen was TERRIBLE last year.
As for the bats, I can't wait to see Mike Stanton continue to develop--w/o question my favorite player in the league.
Maybe they have reason to think otherwise, but I think the Marlins are grossly overestimating the amount of fans that will show up to their games just because they have a new stadium and are now the "Miami Marlins".
I don't see Miami ever having great support for a baseball team, especially when the other team trying to compete with the Dolphins and Canes has so much talent and hype.
mets come pretty close to the marlins offer
reyess wanted out
he is way overpaid though
pujols going to miama for another visit
I actually don't think this deal is a bad deal for Reyes. I was thinking 5 years, 85/90 million. Six years 106 is solid. It's a little long, a bit more expensive, but it's not excessive like some contracts in previous years, and he plays a prime positions, plays it well defensively, and is an MVP candidate at the plate.
The new ballpark is in a great location (sits where the old Orange Bowl used to be)--unlike Dolphins Stadium--which was on the Dade-Broward county line and was a far drive for people from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Now it's a short trip, with easy access from 2 highways.
Another plus is that it's a retractable roof, so no more July games under the oppressive 95-degree heat where you can't hide from the sun. It will be air-conditioned and you won't risk skin-cancer or heat-stroke while at the park.
Sports fans are fickle (Miami fans much more than others)...give them a winning club and they'll show up. Dolphins' attendance is down b/c they've been dog since Marino retired, Heat fans didn't show up the last few years before LBJ, and Canes fans haven't shown up since 1) They moved out of the OB and tore it down and 2) They suck.
If you win, they will come. A new ballpark and signing a bunch of prized FA's will only help.
Fair points, but Miami just seems like a city that will never be a great sports city in terms of the citizens really being fully invested in their teams. It's not just winning. The Marlins even have 2 World Series in the last what 15 years or so? It's just not a true-blue, diehard sports town. Maybe it's because there's a lot of other to do in Miami. Maybe people would rather go to the beach than the ballpark. Whatever it is, sports just seems like a third or fourth priority on people's minds. I get that same feeling from a city like Atlanta. Big cities, have the population and good enough economy to support multiple sports teams, but you don't have the rabid fanbases you see in Boston or Philly or even the smaller markets like the Spurs or the Blazers or the Warriors.
Same with Tampa. The Rays over the last few years have not only been compe ive but they've made it to the playoffs 3 of the last 4 years in the toughest division in baseball with a World Series appearance. They can't even sell out playoff games. The Marlins should sell pretty good for the next couple seasons with the new stadium and maybe with some hype because of Ozzie and Reyes and if they add Pujols. But I'm not convinced they'll sustain it. Even if they have winning seasons, unless they start going deep in the post season year in and year out, I think they'll revert back to struggling with attendance, with or without a good product on the field. Something about sports in Florida.
pujols talking to angels
Miami will never be a rabid sports town, but the attendance can (and imo will) become exponentially better as long as a winner's in town. Still though, miami sports fan will always be the guy who shows up 30 minutes late to a game and leaves 30 min early...just the nature of the beast down here.
The constant influx of foreigners and NYC transplants doesn't help their case either. Miami hasn't had a good homefield/arena/stadium atmosphere since the OB. Sucks, but it is what it is
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