MIAMI — Jose Reyes said he isn’t considering that tonight in Miami might be his final opener as a Met.
“No, right now I don’t think that way,” Reyes said yesterday at Sun Life Stadium. “Right now, I’m still here.”
Nevertheless, Reyes is about to enter the final season of his contract, and the Mets’ All-Star shortstop has no assurance that he will remain with the club after the year — or for the entire season.
While the Mets’ new regime of Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins opens up tonight, Reyes, who will earn $11 million this season because of a club option, remains the longest-tenured player on the team. He signed with the organization in 1999 and has played in the majors since the Art Howe days of 2003.
Last season, Reyes missed Opening Day (also against the Marlins) and the first four games of the year, because he still was recovering from his spring training thyroid issue. He’s in a completely different state of physical health a year later.
The three-time All-Star said he hasn’t felt this terrific since back in spring training 2008.
“Right now I feel 100 percent,” Reyes said.
Reyes has been trumpeted as the Mets’ most important player, and the numbers seem to bare that out. In the last three years, the Mets are 171-155 when he starts and 67-90 when he doesn’t. Last season, the Mets were 15-15 when he didn’t start and 64-68 when he did.
David Wright said Reyes’ impact is critical.
“I think the biggest compliment I can give him is we’re a completely different team with him being in the lineup versus not being in the lineup,” Wright said.
There’s no denying the value of Reyes, who enters his eighth and possibly final season with the Mets.
But the 27-year-old believes 2011 is not just about him.
“Not for me,” he said. “For everybody here.”