After adding Heath Bell earlier in the week, the Marlins landed prized shortstop Jose Reyes (above) on the eve of winter meetings.
DALLAS -- The Marlins added another big name free agent on Sunday, reportedly signing Mets shortstop Jose Reyes to a contract worth six years and $106 million, pending a physical. Here are five thoughts on the intra-division poaching:
Reyes' value
His new contract makes him the third-most highly compensated shortstop in baseball history, with his $17.7 million average annual value trailing only the $25.2 million AAV Alex Rodriguez received on the 10-year deal he signed with the Rangers and the $18.9 million AAV the Yankees' Derek Jeter received on his 10-year contract that began in 2001. (A-Rod, of course, moved to third base in the midst of his contract, after his trade to the Yankees.) Reyes' $106 million total value ranks fourth behind Rodrigues, Jeter and the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki, who is in the midst of a 10-year, $157.8 million deal. For comparison's sake Reyes' new teammate, Hanley Ramirez, is in year four of a six-year, $70 million deal, though he wasn't a free agent when he signed his, which includes three arbitration years.
Reyes only played 126 games in 2011, largely because of a balky hamstring, but he was among baseball's most productive players when healthy, winning the NL batting crown with a .337 average and leading the league with 16 triples. He also set career bests with a .384 on-base percentage -- 49 points better than his previous career rate -- and a .493 slugging percentage.
That production shows that Reyes is capable of being a truly elite, difference-making shortstop. So often the commentary surrounding him revolves around his ever-present smile and love of the game or about how his blazing speed makes a Reyes ball in the gap the most exciting play in baseball. (He's led the majors in triples four times.) But those trains of thought undersell the point that Reyes is an all-around great baseball player -- when healthy.
Unfortunately that two-word descriptor "when healthy" is an intricate part of any Reyes scouting report. He has only played an average of 98 games the past three years, though he did average 158 games the previous four seasons. And Reyes is still only 28 years old -- he won't turn 29 until June -- so one would think he is in his athletic prime and thus able to regain his past durability.
Baseball's free agent market is generally inefficient, with signees rarely living up to the full extent of their contracts, but Reyes makes the Marlins better and a more attractive draw, both for fans and other free agents, so this contract has a decent chance of working out.
Marlins continue their shopping spree.
Even though the Securities and Exchange Commission is now reportedly investigating the financing for the Marlins' new ballpark, a $515-million retractable roof stadium set to open in 2012, the club said that would not affect their offseason spending plans and it hasn't. Miami inked Padres closer Heath Bell to a three-year, $27-million deal late Thursday night and now Reyes on Sunday night, meaning the previous penny-pinchers are responsible for the first and third most expensive contracts so far awarded this offseason.
And they may not be done. Reports Sunday night said they were going to continue pushing for Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and a starting pitcher, potentially the Rangers' C.J. Wilson or the White Sox' Mark Buehrle.
Even if the Marlins don't add any other big name this winter, they've already generated significant buzz around the club as they sell season tickets for the inaugural season in the new ballpark and moved themselves into playoff contention, particularly in light of next year's expanded postseason that will feature a second wild card.