DALLAS — See you later, Jose Reyes.
The All-Star shortstop is officially an ex-Met, after last night agreeing to a six-year deal with the Miami Marlins worth $106 million, according to major league sources.
Sandy Alderson had a final discussion with Reyes’ agents yesterday morning, at which time the Mets general manager was told the parameters of a contract he had in mind for Reyes weren’t good enough. Later in the day, the Marlins increased their initial offer — about $80 million over six years — to the final number and sealed the deal.
Alderson indicated Reyes’ lead agent, Peter Greenberg, never even bothered to call back and offer the Mets one last shot at his client. But Alderson, who never made a formal offer to Reyes’ representatives, said the Mets were not blindsided.
“I have had several conversations with Jose’s agents over the last 72 hours,” Alderson said last night after arriving here for the Winter Meetings. “From that standpoint, I think they have known where we might have been, and I have known, at least generally speaking, where things might have gone beyond that.”
The Mets were willing to go to five years in the $75-$85 million range with a sixth year option, according to sources, that would have taken the total package over $100 million. But they felt they were stretching at five years, given Reyes’ injury history, which included two stints on the disabled list with hamstring injuries this season.
Ruben Tejada will become the Mets’ new starting shortstop, with Daniel Murphy likely to become the full-time second baseman, though Alderson said other possibilities could be explored at second.
The GM prefaced most of his comments about Reyes’ departure by saying “if the reports are true,” but clearly realized the player was headed to the Marlins. And even with that knowledge, he isn’t about to say the Mets are in a rebuilding mode.
“Will we be favored going into spring training?” Alderson asked rhetorically. “If we get all our players back healthy — which would count among them people like Johan Santana — we’ll be fine.”
Alderson disputed the notion the Mets weren’t aggressive enough in pursuing Reyes.
“He was the most important thing in our agenda, which is why we went about it the way we did,” Alderson said.
Reyes, who hit .337 to win the NL batting title, becomes the Marlins’ second big free-agent addition of the offseason, as the team prepares to open a new downtown ballpark. Last week the team signed closer Heath Bell to a three-year deal worth $27 million.
Without Reyes, the Mets’ 2012 payroll could fall below $100 million. The team had a $140 million payroll last season, but shed big contracts held by Carlos Beltran, Francisco Rodriguez, Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.
Alderson was asked if the Mets’ entanglement in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme and subsequent clawback lawsuit played a role in their approach with Reyes’ contract.
“I really don’t think Madoff has that much to do with this,” Alderson said.
If it’s any consolation to disillusioned Mets fans, Alderson said he has no intention of trading David Wright. The popular third baseman is signed through next season, with the Mets holding an option for 2013.