People are under the impression you can take 20 million in annual salary and replace Reyes with 4 players making 5 million per year. That’s not the way baseball works. When you have an upper echelon talent like Jose Reyes, you’re not going to find scrubs/mediocre players to fill his spot, along with other positions on the field and IMPROVE. You will REGRESS more like it. You’re going to wind up with Angel Pagan type players. You’re going to wind up with Steve Swisher type players. You’re going to wind up with average type players. That’s not going to fill the bill when you don’t replace your star athlete. Every sport is this way. Baseball isn’t an exception.

Somehow, someway, Met fans have been tricked into the idea that Jose Reyes’ money can be used to “fill holes” on the roster. How exactly does losing Jose Reyes help fill holes when his loss would generate the BIGGEST HOLE to fill?

It’s like going from Prime Rib to chuck steak.
It’s like going from designer clothing to rags purchased on a street corner.
It’s like going from driving a car with brand new tires to worn tires.
It’s like watching a TV made in 2009 to something made in 1989.
It’s like dating a compassionate person and then dating someone selfish.

Think about it for a second. You’re going 2nd hand if you replace Reyes with an inferior athlete. And 4 second hand athletes NEVER replaces a star one.

In so far as merchandising and ticket sales being higher because of Jose…management is more likely to look at the amount of games that Jose has missed instead.

I do hope though that you end up being right and that the Mets instead seek out a trade partner for some serious pitching help by trading David Wright. If they could get a front line starter or a top notch closer they should do it. If not keep David and hope that bringing in the fences at Citi Field helps to remove the demons of hitting there for David and for Jason Bay!

Making more of them isn’t going to make things any better.

And where are we picking up this offense from if we’re not resigning Reyes? And where are we playing this offense that is supposed to replace Reyes bat? LF, CF, C, SS?

No guarantee that Jose ever matches this season but 80% of this year would be enough to fuel a decent offense that maintains a decent approach with the guys we already have, even including the guys we’re stuck with for a while.

Jose Reyes should easily pay for himself in ticket sales, concessions, parking ($19.00 per car) merchandise and ratings on SNY. He should really go under the payroll as a separate entry. Iconic NY Met. Not even be included in the regular payroll figures. We should be less concerned with losing an extra mil or two and more concerned with losing what is left of the Fan Base.

Trade Wright if there is something really worthwhile if you have to or decline his option and let him go after 2012. Bay’s option won’t vest so he’s gone after 2013, Santana contract is up in 2013 too and his option can be declined so there is plenty of salary coming off the books real soon and a few good looking players coming up who will be inexpensive for years to come but no ones going to pay to see them if the base base has just thrown in the towel.

People will understand if he gets 7 years 150 M but what they won’t understand is if we don’t do everything possible to try to resign him right now, both in word and in deed. Make the guy a very fair and reasonable offer right off the bat. 5/100 + a perk or two. If he uses that as a base in which to judge all other offers so be it. If he does that he’s looking elsewhere anyway but he’s been a bargain and a joy for years so show him you want him to stay. Show him you want him to be part of the future, we all do.

After giving so much money to so many other guys to come here and stink up the joint you don’t have any left for one of our own who has played very well here?

Typical Mets, Typical Wilpon.

really the only disappointing # was 126, his games played.

Interesting also though is his age. 28. I know at some point I saw an analysis trying to prove it, but it really does seem common to see guys have their breakout/career year right around 28. Just seems to be the sweet spot of experience, physicial peak, etc. where it all comes together. And before they hit the dark side of 30 and start that gradual decline into old age.

Will be nice to see Reyes stay healthy and have a decent run of peak years though. Some guys stay up for a while, some peak and crash. I’m hoping he is a maintainer, at least if he signs with the mets (if he goes to the Phils, I hope he turns into jason bay)