The New York Mets hopes of retaining All Star SS Jose Reyes could end before the Winter Meetings even kick off in Dallas on Monday. ESPN Deportes is reporting the Miami Marlins have offered Reyes a five year, $106 million contract, a number that is thought to be well beyond what the Mets can afford.
The Marlins offer would include a team-option for a seventh year for $22 million or a $5 million buyout, bringing the minimum total value of the deal to $111.
In what should be a common theme this offseason with the Wilpon family still running the Mets, it's likely the team will miss out on any free agent that is looking for anything close to market price.
Much like last season, expect New York to scan the bargain bin and hope to get lucky the way they did with P Chris Capuano last season. Capuano, if you'll remember, had a bounce back season for the Mets in 2011 and then promptly left in free agency when the Mets weren't interested in a second year which the Los Angeles Dodgers offered for $5 million.
Many felt the Mets were confident they would be able to keep Reyes if the Marlins stayed near their original offer of six years and $90 million.
Following up their signing of closer Heath Bell away from the San Diego Chargers by adding Reyes will officially propel the Marlins past the Mets in the division. With the Washington Nationals ready to spend big, New York should be the popular pick to reside in last place in the NL East in 2012 and the foreseeable future.