Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Reyes Arriving
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The Mets will have a new third baseman on Tuesday. It will be their old shortstop.
Jose Reyes will have his contract purchased Tuesday, just over a week after signing a minor league deal with the club following his release by the Rockies. Reyes, of course, was suspended for the first 51 games of the season following an arrest for a domestic violence incident with his wife. Colorado decided he wasn’t worth the trouble once the suspension was served.
Reyes played third base in the minors for the Mets and that’s where he’s expected to spend most of his time with the big club. With David Wright (neck, back) looking unlikely to make it back this season, the hot corner could be Reyes’ for the rest of the year. Manager Terry Collins has also said he plans to hit Reyes in the leadoff spot.
Reyes turned 33 last month and batted a pedestrian .274/.310/.378 last season for the Blue Jays and Rockies. He also hit a mediocre .254/.360/.365 over 19 games in the minors in 2016. His best days are no doubt behind him, and it’s fair to question how much fantasy value Reyes has left in him.
If Reyes is going to provide a boost for fantasy owners, he’s almost surely going to do it with his legs. Even while underperforming with the bat in 2014 and 2015, Reyes still stole 30 and 24 bases, respectively. He also pilfered four bags in his brief time in the minors this season.
Speed guys entering their mid-30s are often a dangerous proposition. However, the Mets have been a team essentially devoid of speed this season. They got Reyes in hopes that he could add that element to their club. If Reyes gets on base, he’s going to run. Will he get on base enough to make a difference? It’s a reasonable question, but at a time when stolen bases are down across baseball, a guy who ranks in the top-50 all-time in steals is worth a gamble in your fantasy league.
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The Real(muto) Deal
Have you noticed what kind of year J.T. Realmuto is having? If not, it’s OK, as you’re not alone.
The Marlins catcher went 4-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Monday’s loss to the Mets. The big night at the plate continued what has been a ridiculous little run for Realmuto, as he’s now gone 13-for-21 over his last five games, reaching base an additional three times via the walk. He’s also stolen three bases during that stretch.
Realmuto’s surge at the dish has pushed his season line up to .325/.356/.440. The batting average places him third in the National League behind Nationals teammates Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos. He’s also hit five home runs and notched seven steals, putting him on pace for 10 dingers and 14 pilfers for the season. That’s awfully good for a guy who plays a position that’s generally been starved for fantasy assets.
Also worth noting with Realmuto is that he’s batted leadoff for the Marlins in each of the last two games. It’s a placement he’s been in for a total of nine times on the season. With Derek Dietrich doing a fine job in his chances in the leadoff spot and Dee Gordon due back from suspension later this month, it remains to be seen how many more opportunities Realmuto will get at the top of the Marlins’ order. However, whether he’s hitting first, sixth or seventh, the 25-year-old has proven to be quite a fantasy value in 2016.
Giddy for Guerra
The first official transaction made by Brewers general manager David Sterns last October was a waiver claim of Junior Guerra. The move is looking like it might wind up being one of the GM’s best.
Guerra befuddled the Nationals on Monday, limiting them to just two singles and two walks over 7 1/3 shutout innings. He struck out seven batters on the day, out-dueling Nats ace Max Scherzer. Guerra picked up the win in the Brew Crew’s 1-0 victory, moving to 6-1 on the season while lowering his ERA to 2.93 over 12 starts. He also sports a 67/23 K/BB ratio over 76 2/3 innings.
It’s tough to know what to make out of Guerra. He’s a 31-year-old former catcher who spent six years in various unaffiliated leagues before the White Sox took a flier on him two winters ago. He pitched well for them at Double- and Triple-A in 2015 but struggled during a cup of coffee with the big club and was exposed to waivers, at which point the Brewers scooped him up.
Guerra’s fastball touches the mid-90s, but it’s his splitter that’s been a difference-maker. Only Matt Shoemaker and Masahiro Tanaka have thrown a higher percentage of splitters this season, and it’s been Guerra’s out pitch. It’s not difficult to spot the incredible diving action on the pitch when you take a look at highlights from Guerra’s gem on Monday.
There’s no doubt that we’re talking about a wild card here, but the peripherals and the stuff say that Guerra could have some staying power. He’ll take a 15 2/3-inning scoreless streak into his final start of the first half on Sunday against the Cardinals.
National League Quick Hits: The Pirates placed Jameson Taillon on the disabled list Monday with right shoulder fatigue … Julio Urias is expected to be sent back to the minors on Tuesday … Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list to start Thursday against the Padres … Kris Bryant left Monday’s game against the Reds with a bruised leg but is expected to play Tuesday … Gregory Polanco launched a pair of home runs in Monday’s victory over the Cardinals … Travis d’Arnaud went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and RBI single in Monday’s win over the Marlins … Odubel Herrera doubled and ripped a two-run homer in Monday’s win over the Braves … Gerrit Cole (triceps) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday … Jake Peavy struck out six while tossing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Monday’s victory over the Rockies … Jerad Eickhoff struck out eight while limiting the Braves to just two runs over 7 2/3 innings in a victory Monday … Addison Russell went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Monday’s win over the Reds … The Nationals activated Jonathan Papelbon from the disabled list Monday, optioned Michael Taylor in a corresponding move … Angel Pagan smacked a two-run homer and added a double in Monday’s victory over the Rockies … Derek Norris doubled, homered and drove in three runs in Monday’s win over the D’Backs …
American League Quick Hits: Yu Darvish (shoulder) began a rehab assignment Monday … Lance McCullers recorded 10 strikeouts while limiting the Mariners to just one run over seven frames in a victory on Monday … Trevor Plouffe was placed on the disabled list Monday with a cracked rib … The Tigers placed Jordan Zimmermann on the disabled list Monday with a strained neck. Anibal Sanchez will take his spot in the rotation … Michael Brantley (shoulder) will go through a normal pregame workout on Tuesday … Todd Frazier went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, two walks, and two runs scored in Monday’s victory over the Yankees … Marco Estrada (back) is expected to make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Tigers … Felix Hernandez (calf) is scheduled to throw a 45-pitch simulated game on Wednesday and could be cleared for a rehab assignment if it goes well … Alex Cobb (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday … Daniel Norris left Monday’s start against the Indians with a strained oblique … Starlin Castro went 4-for-4 with a run scored in Monday’s loss to the White Sox … Rougned Odor went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in Monday’s loss to the Red Sox … George Springer doubled and belted a go-ahead solo homer in Monday’s win over the Mariners … Desmond Jennings landed on the DL Monday with a strained hamstring …
