Marlins sign $106 million MLB deal with Reyes

AFP News – 1 hour 8 minutes ago

Jose Reyes, a free agent shortstop who was an all-star with the cash-strapped New York Mets, signed a six-year Major League Baseball deal worth $106 million with the Miami Marlins.

Jose Reyes

The National League batting champion from the Dominican Republic will be paid $10 million in each of the next two seasons, $16 million in 2014 and $22 million in each of the last three years of the contract.

The Marlins, who move into a new $515 million ballpark next March, have a $22 million option on Reyes for 2018 with a buyout of that clause for $4 million.

"It's a perfect situation in Miami," Reyes said. "We have a lot of talent there and the new stadium, the weather, close to Dominican, a lot of Spanish people there, so I think I'm going to like it and enjoy it as much as I can."

The Mets, who lost $70 million last season and remain financially strained after losses stemming from the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, never made a big move to keep the first league batting champion in club history.

"They didn't make a real offer, so that means they don't want me there," Reyes said. "I need to move on."

Reyes, 28, batted .337 last season and stole 39 bases. He will push Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez to third base as Miami tries to build a formidable lineup, having inked a three-year deal worth $27 million for closing relief pitcher Heath Bell on Monday.

The Marlins didn't stop with Reyes on Wednesday, landing another free-agent prize by reaching a deal with four-time all-star pitcher Mark Buehrle for $58 million over four years.

The Marlins have been the busiest team by far in Major League Baseball this week. They've also been pursuing slugger Albert Pujols and pitcher C.J. Wilson.