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Colorado’s Experience With Reyes Could Make MLB, Atlanta Braves Argue for Changes

By Alan Carpenter

Aug 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes (7) at the bat rack prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes (7) at the bat rack prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jose Reyes and the Rockies were never a good match, but the ending of their relationship should require changes for the future… which could help Atlanta.

Do you remember how Jose Reyes ended up being a member of the Colorado Rockies?

July 27, 2015.  Reyes was the unwanted piece of a blockbuster trade between Toronto and Colorado.  Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies’ prized SS, was the centerpiece of the deal.  He and LaTroy Hawkins went to the Blue Jays while Jeff Hoffman, Jesus Tinoco and Reyes came back to Denver.

Reyes was in the deal … pretty much because he had to be.  It was a similar roster situation as with the trade of Andrelton Simmons to Anaheim that brought Erick Aybar to Atlanta.  Each team got what they wanted, but in both cases, a lesser-performing veteran was shuffled off as a necessity consequence since there was no place to play otherwise.

Reyes wasn’t horrible in 2015, but it was a “down” year for him.  Previously pulling fWAR performance ratings in the 2-6 range for a number of years, 2015 knocked that all the way down to 0.5.  His defense wasn’t as good, either, so at 32 years old, there were whispers that ‘the decline’ had started.  Hence Toronto’s desire to replace him.

Numbers That Matter

Tulo’s contract with the Rockies ran through 2021 – with a $4 million buyout that season on a $15 million season.  However, he was set to pull in $94 million from 2016-2020.

Reyes, on the other hand, was due $22 million this year and next, but his contract ends with a buyout price of $4 million for 2018.  That means the deal gave them a chance to end big Shortstop payments 3 years earlier… with only $48 million guaranteed, a savings of $50 million.

But then the Maui incident happened.  Suddenly, Jose Reyes – who seemed to be moping in Denver after the trade (hitting just .259; OPS’ing .659) – was persona non grata.

Next: Stigma. Applied

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