Jose Reyes: Could This New York Met Find a Home with the Other New York Team?

Derek Jeter used to be the best shortstop around, but now that crown may belong to Jose Reyes. So says Alex Rodriguez, who is Jeter's teammate. This is for a reason that really doesn't reflect on either man. Jeter is now 37 years old. Reyes is 28.

The New York Mets would dearly love to sign Reyes for the long-term, but Reyes says, "wait till year-end." Perhaps he's holding out for more money.

The New York Yankees tend to offer the most, at least for the players they want. With Johan Santana, Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez and David Wright all making more than Reyes, there might not be enough room on the budget of the cash-strapped Mets to give Reyes the huge raise he would certainly command elsewhere.

What's there not to want about Reyes? Besides playing a key defensive position, he hits for a high average, hits for power, has above average running, throwing and fielding skills. In other words, he's a five-tool player.

That doesn't mean that if the Yankees signed Reyes, Derek Jeter will necessarily be phased out. It would mean that he will take a back seat as shortstop. Perhaps another position can be found for him at one of the corner fielding positions (not third base where "A-Rod" reigns).

Reyes now belongs on a team where the two best batters are the shortstop and the catcher. That is a rare combination, because such players are usually prized for their defensive attributes, meaning that their offensive ability is sometimes hobbled. Unfortunately, this may say something about the rest of the team. Ronny Paulino, a former (and much reviled) Pittsburgh Pirate, is actually contributing more than his former teammate, the much acclaimed (and expensive) but hobbled Jason Bay.

If, as rumored, the Texas Rangers (or some other team) get Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran in a trade, the Mets may have the opposite problem: not enough players, particularly cheap young ones, to support Reyes.

The Yankees, on other other hand, are seeing a generation of old players on the verge of retirement and will soon have to break in young replacements. A "mid-career" person (for baseball) like Reyes, would be a rare and valuable commodity on that team.

Reyes was supposed to be part of a dynamic duo with David Wright at third, the Mets' answer to Jeter and A-Rod. Reyes is now all of a dynamic solo. On the Yankees, he would be part of a dynamic duo with A-Rod, who is younger than Jeter, although older than Reyes.

The Yankees will need a new shortstop, if not this year, maybe the next or the following year. The Mets have a good one that they might not be able to afford. Depending on what the Mets get in return—by the way of prospects or junior players—it could a match made in heaven.