Mets approaching fork in the road with Reyes

With each passing day it becomes more and more evident that someone other than Jose Reyes will be playing shortstop for the New York Mets after the trade deadline in six months. As the team goes through a rebuilding phase, without actually admitting so to its fan-base, they will have to make the ultimate decision on one of the most popular players in franchise history.

Reyes was a highly regarded prospect upon making his ascent to the majors in 2003. The concern of an injury-prone talent quickly manifested itself as the middle infielder failed to top 300 plate appearances in either of his first two seasons. Critics were just as rapid to dismiss such claims as Reyes proceeded to post four straight seasons of over 700 trips to the plate.

• Statistical averages from 2005-2008: .288 BA, 113 R, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 65 SB (81.5 attempts)

Pretty impressive numbers for sure, unfortunately 2009 was an injury-plagued campaign for the budding superstar (limited to 36 games). Reyes managed to play in 133 games in 2010 but there were noticeable drops in his numbers. 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts is not exactly a positive sign for a speedster with a history of lower-body injuries. GM Sandy Alderson is a sabermetrics guy and surely will not look highly at the .321 on-base percentage posted by the lead-off hitter.

His gloomy future with the Mets has been further complicated by the recent announcement that the Wilpons are looking for a buyer to take on roughly 20-25% ownership of the team in order to provide a much needed cash infusion. Bernard Madoff rears his ugly head again. According to Mike Ozanian of Forbes.com, Alderson would have to slash $20-30 million off the current payroll for the team to just break even on its operating costs.

Reyes told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that he has no intention of discussing a possible extension during the upcoming season. With the growing potential of a departure after the season, would Alderson risk losing a player who could command a nine-figure contract without getting anything in return? Probably not. Perhaps if the Mets were expected to be in a pennant race this season things would be different.

A rebuilding team, in need of cutting payroll, cannot afford to lose a prime talent without acquiring potential building blocks for the future in return.

Mets hope small signings pay big dividends

The biggest moves the New York Mets have made so far this offseason have taken place in the club's front office. After two late season collapses and a couple sub .500 finishes, team executives decided it was time for some relief. Exit Omar Minaya, enter Sandy Alderson. The new General Manager has a clear plan, fans just hope it works.

Alderson all but confirmed he is under constraints to add any significant contracts to a payroll that is anticipated to be around $130 million once all the current arbitration-eligible players are signed. The problem is the team still has a bunch of holes, mostly in the bullpen and starting rotation. Though reports vary, the one item that can be agreed upon is that Johan Santana will miss significant time as he continues his recovery from rotator cuff surgery.

The current solution? The signing of low risk, potential high reward candidates to either straight-up minor league deals, or heavy incentive-laden major league contracts. Not counting players that were re-signed or had their options picked up, Alderson has added eight players to the organization.

Here are the additions and what is currently known about their contracts:

• Boof Bonser, rhp - Signed to minor league deal. Makes $15,000/month in the minors, but would collect $700,000 if he plays in Queens. Invited to spring training.
• Ronny Paulino, c - Agreed to a $1.35 million guaranteed deal.
• Dusty Ryan, c - Signed to minor league deal and invited to spring training.
• D.J. Carrasco, rhp - Agreed to a 2 year deal for $2.4 million. Gets $1.2 million in 2011.
• Chin-lung Hu, ss - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitcher Mike Antonini. Hu is arbitration eligible.
• Taylor Buchholz, rhp - Signed for $600,000 guaranteed, gets a $400,000 bonus if he makes the opening day roster and is not on the disabled list. Can make an additional $200,000 if he makes 60 major league appearances.
• Chris Capuano, lhp - Signed for $1.5 million guaranteed. 
• Taylor Tankersley, lhp - Signed to a minor league deal and invited to spring training.

Combine all of those contracts and they wouldn't amount to as much as the New York Yankees just threw at their new 8th inning man, Rafael Soriano. Sure the next R.A. Dickey might be among the names mentioned above, and a few are due to rebound from injuries, but how likely is that?

Things will be very interesting leading up to the start of the regular season. Unfortunately for the fans, the fight for major league jobs in spring training just might be the most exciting aspect of the 2011 Mets... that is, until the trade deadline approaches and Alderson will be forced to make the biggest decision of his short tenure: what to do with pending free agent Jose Reyes?

4:05 PM update: Mets have signed OF Willie Harris to, you guessed it, a minor league contract and have invited him to spring training. At least now if he robs a Met of a home run it will be during batting practice.

Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts: New York Mets for providing contract details.