In one game the New York Mets have gone from somewhat injured to decimated by injuries. Both first baseman Daniel Murphy and shortstop Jose Reyes were placed on the DL today. The bigger story obviously being Reyes who is again on the DL for the same hamstring injury that landed him there in June.

This begs the question to be asked; was owner Fred Wilpon so off tilt with his comments in the New Yorker piece in May? In regards to whether Reyes would get ‘Carl Crawford money,’ a 7 year $142 million contract given to Crawford by Boston before this season Wilpon said, “He’s had everything wrong with him. He won’t get it.”

Originally when the comments were made they backfired and fans were in uproar over the owners comments compiled with his own money troubles. Reyes wasn’t helping Wilpon any as he was putting up MVP caliber numbers leading the league in many hitting categories and had no signs of injuries at all.

Fast forward to a second trip to the DL involving a hamstring and you have to begin to wonder whether or not Wilpon wasn’t just being a bitter old man. Reyes is considered a five-tool player, that is, a player who can hit for average and power, run the bases well, throw, and field.

Reyes doesn’t hit for nearly as much power as is average, but this year his OPS was as high as most power hitters and Reyes bats in the lead off spot. If his legs aren’t reliable, Reyes’s value is significantly less. He brings energy with his speed and quickness as he wreaks havoc on the base paths and any ball hit to the gap is potentially a triple for him.

This news is bitter sweet for the Mets. On the one hand Reyes being hurt again could scare away potential suitors willing to offer Reyes top dollar giving the Mets a chance to resign him at a lower cost or at all. Yet the other way to look at it is while they may be able to resign him if his injuries persist he won’t be as valuable to the Mets either.

There’s still time left in the season and while he is on the DL it’s more to free up roster spots than because of the severity of the injury. Reyes could come back in two weeks and have a great six weeks to finish up the season and still demand big bucks, but people around the MLB have got to be wondering.

If Reyes’s injuries are only going to increase as he ages will he be worth ‘Carl Crawford money’ this off-season?

Mary A Lupo / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Jonathan Ellish
My name is Jonathan Ellish and I'm a recent graduate of URI. I'm a sports fanatic and love New York sports especially. I extensively follow the Jets, Mets, and Knicks.

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