As Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes braces for a potential suspension, rumors are swirling regarding potential interest in the veteran on the trade market.
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Report: Reyes Garnering Trade Interest
Friday, May 13
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, teams have shown a willingness to acquire Reyes, should Colorado decide to deal him.
Reyes’ suspension for a domestic violence incident involving his wife in October is expected to be handed down soon, per Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. A ban of at least 60 games is likely, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, but the 34 games he has already missed would count as part of the punishment.
The Rockies acquired Reyes in a trade that sent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Reyes hit .259 with three home runs, 19 RBI and eight stolen bases in 47 games with Colorado, and he was expected to start in 2016.
The suspension put him in a state of flux, however, and allowed 23-year-old Trevor Story to receive increased playing time. He has flourished with a .266 batting average, 11 home runs and 27 RBI, making Reyes expendable.
While the 32-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is a four-time All Star and former batting champion, his numbers have declined since leaving the New York Mets following the 2011 season.
Reyes has played for the Miami Marlins, Blue Jays and Rockies in four seasons since then, and a combination of injuries and inconsistent play have rendered him a shell of his former self.
He still managed to hit .274 and steal 24 bases in 116 games last year, so even though he is no longer elite, he can still be somewhat productive in comparison to the league average at shortstop.
Due to Reyes’ off-field issues and the fact that the Rockies already have a suitable replacement at shortstop, he could come at a discounted price.
The veteran is set to make $22 million in 2016 and 2017, according to Spotrac.com, however, which means acquiring him will be a significant risk even if it doesn’t take much in terms of assets to land him.
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