Last night, Jose Reyes and Miami Marlins agreed to a six year deal worth 106 million. Before last night, the Mets looked to be competitive as they it looked like it was going to be just the Mets and the Marlins with the Mets offering 5 years between 75 and 85 and the Marlins offering 6 years at about 90. The Marlins made it really simple, greatly increased their offer, and now they have Reyes.
At this point, I don't blame either party.
I don't blame Reyes because that is a crazy amount of money. Loyalty is one thing, but for the well being of himself and his family, I understand.
I don't blame the Mets because as much as I love Reyes on our team, that would shut down our ability to do anything in any other area around this club.
There are many reasons that this, although a completely logical move by both the Mets and Reyes (but not the Marlins), still hurts. Reyes is almost like a friend. Before he went to Miami, he was the longest tenured Mets on the team. He was also, more so than Wright, in my opinion, an icon of how the Mets play small ball baseball by getting hits and pushing across the runs.
It always sucks when you know the people you think are loyal to a team have a price, and that the price it costs is so understandable that if the roles were reversed you would leave too. To me that's what sucks, that almost all of us in the same circumstance of being asked to stay or having an opportunity to leave for a guaranteed 30 million more would also go.
It just sucks that it actually happened.
To Jose, I wish you the best of luck in Miami.
For the Mets, if there is a silver lining here, at least this happened at the start of the Winter Meetings, so we have lots of time this winter to develop a team.
