With the Colorado Rockies set to release Jose Reyes on Saturday, many predict the shortstop will land with his former team, the New York Mets. However, this prospect is upsetting to many Mets fans because in addition to no longer being a very good baseball player, Reyes is an alleged domestic abuser.
Reyes was charged with domestic abuse in October following an altercation with his wife, Katherine, in Hawaii. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges ahead of an April 4 hearing, citing Reyes’ wife lack of cooperation with the prosecution. However, Reyes did not completely escape without punishment. The MLB suspended him for the first 52 games of the 2016 season. With rookie Trevor Story emerging as the future for the Rockies at shortstop, Reyes was quickly made expendable. He was designated for assignment on June 16, and will be released on Saturday barring any last-minute trades.
Mets manager Terry Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson both have floated hints in the media about a desire to upgrade the current Mets roster, indicating to many a homecoming for Reyes is in the works. Should the Mets follow through with this plan they better prepare for public backlash. Fans have already started a petition against the signing of domestic abusers, with Reyes as the genesis.
The petition’s creator, Olivia Devlin, spoke to the New York Daily News about her reasoning for taking action.
“The response (from fans) to the suggestion that Jose Reyes be signed by the New York Mets disgusts me. People are openly defending his actions and attempting to downplay the seriousness of domestic violence, and in some cases are blaming his wife.”
Devlin said when she initially brought up her concerns for a Reyes signing on a general New York Mets fans Facebook page she was met with hostility.
“I could careless about his wife….I wanna see a championship,” one man wrote, according to Devlin.
“Reyes is in the wrong for hitting his wife. However, its the women out there that do alotta shady s–t then play the victim,” another wrote.
However, not all Mets fans were so obtuse. Devlin told the Post she handed out fliers supporting her cause at a recent Mets home game, and “seven of 10” fans agreed with her stance.
Although Reyes is a shadow of his former self, he represents a potential upgrade over current shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Collins and Alderson will have to determine if that potential reward is worth the deserved backlash that will undoubtedly come if they follow through.