MLB Trade Rumors 2015: Jose Reyes Wants to Play for Contender; Are the NY Yankees Interested?
The Major League Baseball's waiver trade deadline is on Aug. 31, and many players have cleared waivers including Colorado Rockies' Jose Reyes. The shortstop was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal last July 27, according to MLB.com.
In a report from the Denver Post, Reyes is not interested in playing for a losing team. The Rockies are projected to lose 95 games this season and are not interested in an old, expensive shortstop. The 32-year-old will own about $56 million through the 2017 season and will be the highest-paid player in the Rockies organization.
"You come from a ballclub that was competing for a spot in the playoffs. And you come to a club in last place. You think about that. I'm at the point in my career that I want to win. I say it over and over. I want to win. I don't want to spend the rest of my career on a last-place team. That's not the kind of player I feel like I am," Reyes said to the Denver Post.
According to CBS Sports, Reyes has cleared his waivers and is eligible to be traded until Aug. 31. He prefers a return to New York, but the Yankees have made little inquiries and the Mets showed no interest at all.
The Yankees have an improving Didi Gregorius at the position, and if they try to acquire Reyes, he will likely play second base, per NJ.com. The Dominican player is an upgrade on second base, better than the Stephen Drew and Brendan Ryan platoon.
Reyes was a four-time all-star with the New York Mets. He led MLB in stolen bases for three years in a row from 2005 to 2007, including 78 in 2007. He was also the NL batting champion in 2011 with a .337 AVG, according to ESPN.
Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, has indicated that no waiver deadline trades will be made. "No, nothing has gotten to me. I've done a lot of claims. I've just never been awarded any of them," Cashman said via NJ.com.
Nonetheless, the Yankees are still linked with Reyes and starter James Shields of the San Diego Padres, who has also cleared his waivers. The Yankees and the Blue Jays are tied for the first place in the AL East standings.
For now, Reyes is willing to stay in Colorado if no deal is made before the Aug. 31 deadline. "We'll see what happens here. But in the next couple years, I don't want to waste my time like that. I'm 32 years old. If there's some part of my game I need to change, it's to stay healthy. Just stay on the field," Reyes said via Sporting News.
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