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ATLANTA (AP) — Mets manager Terry Collins said Friday he has talked with his coaches about how the team would utilize Jose Reyes if the infielder returned to New York, where he launched his career.
Reyes was cut by the Rockies after serving a 59-day suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. He becomes a free agent on Saturday.
The Mets could use help at third base following David Wright's surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Wright could miss the remainder of the season. First baseman Lucas Duda and outfielder Juan Lagares also are on the disabled list.
Collins said he and his coaches also discussed Reyes, 33, playing second base and the outfield. He said "everybody" thinks Reyes could handle those positions.
Collins said the talk is speculative and "we have nothing that's etched in stone because he's not here."
Reyes played primarily at shortstop for the Mets from 2003-11.
"One of the things that probably caught my imagination was his joy of playing in New York," Collins said. "He loved it. That's why he moved there."
Collins said he also remembers "in my time around him he was a joy to be around."
"I just hope that if it works out, that he's that same guy," he said.
Reyes has a .290 career batting average and had four straight seasons with 50 or more steals with the Mets. He hit a combined .274 with Toronto and Colorado in 2015 while playing only at shortstop.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Reyes is "still a good player" who "certainly could help" the Mets.
Collins said he doesn't normally "worry about guys we don't have" but said all the talk about Reyes sparked his preliminary discussion with his coaches.
"Even though he's not here you've got to have some type of a plan in mind when he does get here," Collins said.
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AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd contributed to this report.
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