Well that conversation is now over.
There should be no financial reason now why the Mets cannot sign Reyes to a large contract. I still maintain that even with K-Rod on payroll next season, they would have been able to afford Reyes. With last nights trade, the Mets are completely off the hook for 2012 season with K-Rod and have alleviated their payroll quite a bit.
Let's backtrack though. The deal made last night sends K-Rod and cash to the Brewers for two players to be named later. The cash (estimated 5 million) is the rest of what K-Rod is owed this season, thus forcing the Brewers to either buyout his contract at the end of the season or let the option vest. As you know the Brewers don't have much of a farm system, and have given the Mets a list of players to choose from, and the Mets will make this decision at a later time.
We shouldn't fool ourselves too much, (not that I think anyone is actually doing this) this trade was not for prospects, but to prevent K-Rod from being on the team next year due to how much he was owed, and it was the right move. The only player on the Mets right now who should be making 17.5 million a season is Reyes, and that K-Rod contract was just ridiculous.
Of course this does make this season feel a little empty now.The Mets can still compete without K-Rod, but it will be very difficult. The next two series will probably be even more important. If the team can be dominant without K-Rod, then Beltran will stay with the team. If the team doesn't do so hot, then Beltran could go, and that will almost certainly be for prospects.
An interesting time to be a Mets fan indeed.
