Marlins seem far more aggressive on Reyes
Mets shortstop Jose Reyes rounds first base after connecting for a triple in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Braves in a 2011 game. Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
As the Marlins push to sign Jose Reyes, the time has come for the Mets to push back, but there's no guarantee that will happen, even with the winter meetings set to begin Monday in Dallas.
On Friday, with reports surfacing that Miami is trying to lock up Reyes before what usually is a free-agent frenzy, the Mets still seemed to be on the periphery with their homegrown shortstop.
The Mets had planned to speak with Reyes' representative, Peter Greenberg, in the days leading up to the winter meetings, but the team has yet to be asked about matching any offers. A person familiar with the situation said Friday that there are no assurances the Mets will even be afforded that courtesy.
Which means that the next phone call the Mets get from Greenberg could be one saying that Reyes is on his way to Miami. Although that is an unlikely scenario, it's not out of the question, and the Mets don't seem overly enthusiastic about getting into a bidding war with the Marlins or any other club.
The Sun Sentinel reported Friday that the Marlins, despite reports to the contrary, have not given Reyes an ultimatum to accept their offer this weekend and are "prepared to wait him out through the winter meetings." With its opening offer to Reyes left on the table for more than two weeks, though, Miami could be growing impatient. The deal reportedly is worth as much as $90 million.
Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest suggested that he feels as if the team is behind schedule with its offseason makeover. (Miami reportedly has signed closer Heath Bell to a three-year, $27-million contract that has yet to be announced.) "It'd be nice to have some things done," Beinfest told the Palm Beach Post. "I'm not gonna use the word 'disappointed,' but we'd like to have some players in place."
