The Colorado Rockies announced Wednesday they have designated shortstop Jose Reyes for assignment.
Reyes has yet to play a game in 2016. Major League Baseball suspended the 33-year-old through the end of May for a violation of the league’s domestic violence policy. Before Wednesday’s move, Reyes had been on a minor league rehab assignment with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes.
According to Spotrac, Reyes is signed through 2018 and is due $22 million in each season. He has a club option for 2018 that includes a $4 million buyout.
The Rockies now have 10 days to decide Reyes’ future. They can trade him to another team—albeit while likely paying a large chunk of his deal. Colorado can also release him outright or place him on waivers. Should nobody pick take him off waivers, the Rockies could reinstate him to the 40-man roster.
In all likelihood, though, this represents the end of Reyes’ brief time in the Mile High City. He is declining on the field, as he had a .274/.310/.378 slash line last year between his time with the Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays. According to FanGraphs, Reyes was also one of the worst defensive shortstops in MLB. He tied for the least defensive runs saved with minus-eight and was fourth-worst in ultimate zone rating per 150 games (-7.5).
Adding Reyes to Colorado’s starting lineup would mean displacing Trevor Story, who has been one of the bigger surprises in baseball. The rookie shortstop is batting .265 with 17 home runs and 45 runs batted in. His 1.5 WAR is third among qualified Rockies position players, per FanGraphs.
Another team could give Reyes a shot once he clears waivers. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen offered a lukewarm endorsement of the four-time All-Star:
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported the New York Yankees won’t be among those interested. Heyman, writing for Today’s Knuckleball, reported on June 2 the Yankees showed interest in Reyes last year after his trade to the Rockies.
If he becomes a free agent, Reyes could be a good low-cost signing for a playoff contender during the back half of the regular season.
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