Trevor Storys emergence at shortstop, along with the presence of an All-Star second baseman in D.J. LeMahieu, made it an even easier decision than it otherwise would have been for the Rockies to cut ties with Jose Reyes, as Colorado
Reyes, eligible to play again after serving a two-month suspension for an October domestic violence incident, no longer fit into the Rockies plans. Honestly, he never did, as Colorados obvious hope with Story on the verge of breaking into the majors was to flip Reyes over the winter after his arrival in last summers Troy Tulowitzki trade.
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Colorado winds up eating upwards of $40 million rather than trying to shoehorn Reyes into their roster. Its a move that a lot of teams would not be willing to make, and the Rockies deserve kudos for Evan McPherson Jerseys making a principled stand that, regardle s of the money, they did not want Reyes around.
It may have been more complicated if the Rockies were in contention and felt Reyes could help them. As it is, Colorado is building for the future, and trying to establish a positive culture. Reyes already was unhappy in Denver, then put the stigma of domestic abuse on himself. He was not going to fit the chemistry the Rockies are formulating.
I think team chemistry is when everyone plays for one another, no matter how the game is going, Rockies outfielder Ryan Raburn told Sporting News earlier this season. Everybody is still competing, not taking plays off, you know what I mean? You see some other teams, when the going is tough, guys kind Chris Evans Jerseys of start playing for themselves, dont do the extra stuff. This team here, man, its 27 outs, guys are busting their tails all game. I think thats why you notice a lot of our games, even if we dont come out on top, were still making it interesting and giving ourselves a chance to win.
While the Rockies made the right move in cutting ties with Reyes, the 33-year-old, four-time All-Star does deserve a chance to play somewhere. He has served his time under Major League Baseballs domestic violence policy, which was set up to penalize offenders even in absence of Michael Thomas Jerseys sanction by the criminal justice system, and served its purpose here.
Reyes will be available to any team for the major league minimum after he clears waivers, and somebody will decide that his baseball talent warrants an opportunity. The team that signs Reyes will face some scorn for doing so, but also will have an opportunity of its own, to do something positive beyond the diamond.
Whatever team signs Reyes must make it clear that second chances are a precious thing, and that there is zero tolerance for domestic violence. The team needs to be out front with public support of womens causes in its local market, Jalen Davis Jerseys with Reyes himself as a visible part of the efforts as he shows the world that he is dedicated to being a better man. It also needs to be clear that if he is anything short of a model citizen, he is gone.
The Rockies did what was right for them. Another team will do what is right for them. Whoever picks up Reyes has to see to it that they also do, simply, what is right.