Thursday, June 30, 2016

The Return of Reyes

The Dominican Republic legend, .290 career average hitter, and former all star returned to the New York Mets last week on a minor league deal. Reyes, the former signee of the Miami Marlins was suspended earlier this year for domestic violence reason against his wife while they were on vacation. 
    So, what happened to Jose Reyes? The game changer, leadoff batter, and bag stealer? 
After leaving the New York Mets to sign  in 2011 for 6 years on a 106 million dollar contract, with the Miami Marlins, along with Greg Dobbs, Mike Cameron, Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle, and draftee, Jose Fernandez. However, the Miami Marlins produced no more than a flash in the pan  in terms on progression and were almost forced, due to salary cap reasons, to trade Reyes, and a handful of other established players to the Toronto Blue Jays in November of 2013. However, from their, the decline of Reyes slowly, but surely began. 
  In April, following the trade from the past November, Reyes was carted off on the field after hearing a pop in his left ankle while chasing a ball. 
    After a few unproductive and underwhelming seasons plagued by injuries, Reyes was traded to the Colorado Rockies in July of 2015, in the blockbuster deal that brought Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays, and budding pitching prospect Jeff Hoffman to the Rockies. 
   In 132 games with his new club, Reyes batted a productive .274 and was poised for a major, rebounding newt season. If only he stayed out of trouble.
    During the 2-15-2016 offseason, Reyes was charged with domestic violence against his wife, while the two were on vacation in Hawaii. On February 23rd, 2016, commissioner Robert Manfred stated that Reyes would be suspended for 50 gamed without pay. 
  After reinstatement on May 31, Reyes was assigned to a rehab stint in the minors. On June 15th however, Reyes would be designated for assignment, and would be signed to a reunion with the New York Mets, his starting club (2003-2011). 

   As the story progresses, one will not simply know how this will work out, whether Reyes would return to old form or decline steadily.