Mets History Rewritten: Jose Reyes re-signs after winning the 2011 batting title

How Reyes leaving for Miami impacted the Mets and other teams

There’s no doubt Reyes impacted other franchises during the time he was away from the Mets. He was a part of a blockbuster trade between the Marlins and Blue Jays which included a total of 12 players. The deal accelerated Toronto’s chances of winning and put them in a spot to acquire R.A. Dickey in a deal with the Mets later on.

We’ll never know, but maybe if the trade never did take place, they would have found their version of Dickey elsewhere. Their fate would have drastically changed with Reyes in New York.

In yet another trade, Reyes shaped the way the Blue Jays and Rockies would look for a few seasons beginning in mid-2015. He was one of the most well-known names sent to the thin Denver air in exchange for Troy Tulowitzki.

Tulowitzki never did find success in Toronto. If Reyes stayed with the Mets after 2011, this trade may have never happened particularly because it had a lot to do with swapping salaries.

And finally, circling back to Miami, Reyes was one of several big pieces the team acquired ahead of the opening of their new ballpark. The team’s failure to win with him ultimately led to a major sell-off which then led to losing seasons and different draft picks along the way. Because Miami was at the beginning of Reyes’ decision to leave New York, the impact on their franchise is even greater.

When it comes to on-field production, it’s difficult to know just how healthy Reyes would have been. He played in 160 games for the Marlins during his one year down in Miami. However, he was limited to just 93 in 2013, 143 in 2014, and combined to play in 116 games for the Blue Jays and Rockies in 2015.

Although he still hit well, he wasn’t the star he was during the previous decade.