Shifting positions
Reyes: I’ll play wherever needed
Jose Reyes doesn’t know what position he will be playing in 2017, but he’s going to be better, a lot better
And, yes, it would help if the Mets were able to bring back his good friend Yoenis Cespedes.
With second baseman Neil Walker coming back to the team after accepting the $17.2 million qualifying offer and the long-shot possibility of David Wright returning to play third, Reyes is a man without a position right now.
“This offseason I am going to be working at every position, so, just to be ready for spring training,’’ Reyes said Tuesday. “Wherever the skipper wants to put me, I’m going to be open to doing it, whatever is best for the team.
“It’s great to have Neil back, we know what he can do in the field, at the plate. He is a good person, a good second baseman, that’s what we need.’’
As for Cespedes, Reyes said: “I talked to him like one week ago, he is still waiting. We want him back. I don’t know what’s going to happen but for sure we want him back.’’ They need him back. “Every team needs a player like Cespedes in the lineup,’’ Reyes said. “He’s a game-changer. I tried to talk to him to better convince him to coming back, but that is something I can’t control.
“Not only me, but every player on our ballclub wants him back.’’
Reyes did tell The Post he will have a conversation soon with Wright, who has played just 75 games the past two seasons, to see how he is doing in his latest comeback.
Curtis Granderson and Reyes were at Catherine and Count Basie Middle School 72 in Jamaica, Queens, to deliver turkeys to needy families. Granderson weighed in on Cespedes, too, saying, “I’d say it’s 50/50.
“For a year and a half now he has felt really comfortable in the clubhouse, in the community, his family feels very comfortable as well,’’ Granderson said. “At the same time there are 29 other teams that are going to make him feel as comfortable as he did here.’’
If the Mets re-sign Cespedes, that would make for a crowded outfield and there is the chance Granderson, who is in the last year of his contract, could be dealt, but he said he is not concerned by any rumors.
“Been in rumors before that never panned out,’’ Granderson said.
Reyes could wind up playing some outfield, too. No matter what, Reyes said he knows he will be better this year with a full spring training after his suspension last year for two months for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy.
“I know for sure I am going to be way better than the past season,’’ Reyes said. “I’m going to be in spring training and be in shape right out of the gate.’’
Reyes declined to speak on the Jeurys Familia situation. Familia recently was arrested for a domestic violence altercation.
“I talked to him, but not about that matter, just to say hello. I did not want to touch base with him on that,’’ Reyes said.
Familia pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of simple assault.