Jose Reyes: 5 Reasons Why Giants Should Pull the Trigger and Deal for Mets SS
Recently there have been plenty of rumors going around that the San Francisco Giants are looking to strike a deal with the New York Mets for the Mets' All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes.
This has come about mainly because of Miguel Tejada's underwhelming performance so far in the 2011 season and how the Giants' offense has been sputtering as a whole.
There have been many different opinions expressed from Giants fans so far, both positive and negative, about a potential move for Reyes, but I'm here to supply five reasons why the Giants should go through with a move for the speedy SS.
He'll Add Much-Needed Speed to the Lineup
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Last season, San Francisco ranked last in the league as a team for stolen bases with a paltry 55.
This year the Giants have improved slightly and are currently 19th in the league, but their leading base-stealer is catcher Buster Posey—with three.
With Andres Torres having missed time with injuries and yet to fully make it back to the big league, someone who has the potential to swipe bases is a must, especially with a team like the Giants.
Here's where Reyes comes in.
He's a great leadoff hitter, having played that role ever since joining the Mets, has great wheels (Mets' all time triples and stolen bases leader) and is a great base-stealer, with 12 already this year and four 50-plus-SB seasons.
Reyes would add a ton of speed to a team that desperately needs it.
He's an Upgrade at Shortstop
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The Giants' biggest move this past offseason was signing SS turned 3B Miguel Tejada to return to shortstop and replace the outgoing Edgar Renteria and Juan Uribe.
Two months into the season, it's not looking good...
Tejada has already committed five errors at his position and is only hitting .195 for the year.
Hence why Reyes would be a definite upgrade.
Not only is Reyes defensively solid (.985 FPCT), he is also on a tear at the plate and is currently batting .331/1/12 with six triples.
The extra offense is especially welcome considering hard-hitting Pablo Sandoval is now on the DL after surgery on his hand.
He Adds Another Dimension to the Offense
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As mentioned in the previous slide, Reyes is having a great season at the plate.
On the flip side, the Giants' offense has stagnated so far.
Whilst Buster Posey has managed to avoid the sophomore slump, Pablo Sandoval is on the DL, Andres Torres is with Fresno, Cody Ross has only just returned to the lineup and both Aubrey Huff and Miguel Tejada are mired in slumps.
Reyes could be a spark plug for the team.
Not only could he lead off the team, he's also flexible in being able to bat at any point in the lineup, possibly slipping behind Andres Torres into the No. 2 spot.
So he won't hit for power (10 to 15 HR), but Reyes is a smart hitter and would make full use of AT&T Park.
He'd give opposing pitchers someone else to think of rather than just Posey, Sandoval, etc. and would be fantastic on the basepaths when one of the team's "big bats" enters the fray.
Reyes is a top offensive player, and if the team could re-sign him, he'd be an excellent addition for years to come on offense for a team whose championship window is only just opening.
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The Price for Him Isn't Too Steep
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Now let's be honest: I have no idea how far along talks are between the two GMs or even if there have been any talks at all, but obviously the Mets will want something in return for one of their star players.
The fact of the matter is the Mets are currently having financial difficulties and are trying to trade players like Reyes to reduce payroll.
This means that the Mets will most likely want some prospects in return for Reyes, especially as it's rumoured the Mets have not asked for a piece of the Giants' highly envied starting rotation.
However, the Giants don't have many top prospects to offer, especially since Buster Posey and Brandon Belt have already made their big-league debuts.
If the Giants are unwilling to offer Belt (let's face it—they ain't offering Posey), a package of reliever Dan Runzler and RHP Zack Wheeler may be enough to pry Reyes away, especially with the Mets' pitching woes.
The obvious retort here is that Reyes is a FA at the end of the year and it's a high price to pay for a one-year rental.
I totally agree.
That's why the thinking in the Giants camp should be, "If we can get Reyes to promise to re-sign in the Bay Area, let's go for it."
Reyes (committed to re-signing) for Wheeler and Runzler is an excellent deal in my book.
The Giants Need an Impact Player
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Last season was a Cinderella story for the Giants.
Despite having a below-average offense, they were led by their fantastic pitching to the Fall Classic, where they won it all.
However, a repeat is unlikely to be in the works unless they make a move.
The rotation is as good as ever, but the offense still lacks championship-caliber status, and making that one move could put this team back over the edge.
I've already mentioned why Reyes is an ideal fit, but now I'm saying he fits in so well that it could push the offense into the top half of the league and right back into October baseball.
Time to pick up your phone, Brian Sabean...
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