The Mets have offered Jose Reyes salary arbitration, according to Adam Rubin.
Despite some changes free agent compensation in the CBA, Reyes’ status remains unchanged and he is still considered a Type-A free agent and if he declines arbitration the Mets would be guaranteed two draft picks as compensation.
The Mets will automatically get a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the draft.
Additionally, if he signs with a team that finished in the top 15 in 2011, the Mets would get that team’s first round pick. However, if he signs with a team who finished in the bottom 15, their first round picks are protected so the Mets would get a second round pick instead.
Draft-pick compensation changes next offseason under the new collective bargaining agreement. Only the top 10 first-round picks will be protected. And the way to collect a draft pick will be to offer a one-year contract to the departing player at the average of the top 125 salaries and have the player decline.
