DUNEDIN, Fla. – Jose Reyes arrived at Blue Jays camp Friday with a bad taste in his mouth.
Reyes said that two days before he was traded from the Marlins to the Blue Jays, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria assured him he was not going to be traded by the flush-it-down the drain Marlins.
“Two days before the trade, I was having dinner with him in New York,’’ Reyes explained.
At that mid-November dinner, the Marlins owner went so far as to tell Reyes to buy a house in Miami.
“He was talking still about getting a nice house in Miami,’’ the former Mets shortstop said. “That was kind of crazy, how do you want me to spend my money in Miami when I have my house in New York and you are going to trade me in two days?
“Then I went on vacation with my wife and I found out I was trade. I thought people were joking but when I called my agent he said yes I was traded … I was shocked.’’
Would you buy a house in Toronto now, Reyes was asked by the Post. He smiled and said, “No, not yet.’’
Reyes is trying to move forward.
“For the first couple of weeks I still couldn’t believe what was going on,’’ Reyes said of the trade. “But now that I’m here in spring training I can’t wait to get on the field with my new team. It is what it is.
“It’s going to be an exciting year for me, the team, the whole organization,’’ said Reyes, who signed a six-year, $106 million contract with the Marlins last offseason, a contract without a no-trade clause.
Drug-stained Melky Cabrera also arrived Friday and as soon as he walked into the clubhouse at 8:10, he went straight to Reyes, who gave him a big hug. Cabrera was signed by the Blue Jays this winter after being suspended 50 games by MLB last season for failing a drug test use. His name also surfaced in the Biogenesis scandal.
Cabrera said he was sorry for his mistake and is looking forward to his new life with the Blue Jays after he was left off the playoff roster by the World Champion Giants. The ex-Yankee said he has not talked to Alex Rodriguez.
“I know I made a mistake, it’s in the past, I want to help this team win,’’ Cabrera told reporters, his first public comments since he was suspended 50 games last August. Cabrera also said he believes he should get a World Series ring from the Giants.
Reyes said he tried to make Cabrera feel at home.
“I talked to Melky like a friend,’’ Reyes said. “We’ve accepted him with open arms.’’
This last year has been a whirlwind for Reyes, leaving the Mets as a free agent, signing with the Marlins, thinking he was going to be there for the length of his six-year contract and then being traded to the Blue Jays and into the AL East.
“It’s been a little weird,’’ Reyes admitted. “Because when I went to Miami I never thought I would be traded so soon, but this is a business.’’
Reyes learned in Miami that nothing is guaranteed. The Marlins were expected to compete for the NL East crown and finished last, a lesson he will tell his new team.
“Last year we had an unbelievable team in Miami and we finished last,’’ Reyes said. “It’s about getting on the field and putting it all together.’’
As for the Marlins fans, Reyes said, “I feel sorry for them now.’’
No doubt that whatever Marlins fans that are left are sick to their stomach.