Way back on May 25th, the New York Mets were on the verge of seeing the season flash before their eyes. It was days before their implosion against the Los Angeles Dodgers with the Jorge Lopez glove toss highlighting what appeared to be the final breath of the 2024 season.
Cats have nine lives. Apparently, the 2024 Mets are more feline than dog.
It was on that late May day when the Mets swapped cash for Boston Red Sox minor league utility man Pablo Reyes. An incredibly versatile player without a consistent track record in the majors, his excellent play with Syracuse this season could be a big help for the Mets in the final days of the 2024 season.
Minor league utility man Pablo Reyes should be a candidate for the roster in the final weeks
With more than enough outfielders on the roster, adding some infield depth wouldn’t be such a bad plan. Reyes has spent his time with Syracuse playing second base, third base, and shortstop about evenly. Other teams have given him a chance to play the outfield. He is the definition of a super utility player.
The major league numbers haven’t been terrific. His .248/.309/.349 slash line in 572 plate appearances helps explain why he remains in Triple-A. However, this has been a very productive year for him. With Syracuse he’s slashing .289/.368/.506 with 9 home runs and 33 RBI in 192 chances.
Reyes has done most of his damage against left-handed pitchers. His .320/.340/.540 slash line and 3 home runs against them in 53 plate appearances is noteworthy.
Reyes is far from perfect with his success against lefties and defensive versatility weighing heaviest in his favor. He doesn’t have the kind of speed or power as some of the other candidates. His lack of a presence on the 40-man roster would require an additional move the Mets might not be willing to make either. A useful depth piece the Mets may never use, at the very least we can mark this down as a successful cash for player trade by David Stearns even if all he ever does is provide some security.
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