Jose Reyes & Devin Mesoraco — Deep League Wire

It’s an all Mets edition of the deep league waiver wire! I could hear the excitement through my computer screen.

Jose Reyes | 2B/SS/3B NYM | CBS 5% Owned

You’re not going to believe this, but Jose Reyes still plays! I didn’t even realize he amassed 561 plate appearances last year. Pretty amazing since he didn’t enter the year as a starter, but rather a super utility player. He entered this season as one too, but Todd Frazier just landed on the DL and figures to miss a couple of weeks with the dreaded hamstring strain. So Reyes should garner the majority of the at-bats at third base, though perhaps Wilmer Flores plays there some as well.

Reyes is already 35, so his most valuable fantasy skill, his speed, is more difficult to count on. That said, he has already attempted three swipes in just 38 plate appearances (and a pathetic .184 OBP!), so he surely seems still willing to run. That’s a good thing for his future fantasy owners. The other thing you worry about when a hitter ages is a deteriorating ability to make contact. That has happened here so far over a small sample (career worst Contact% and SwStk% marks), but he has somehow managed to maintain a strong strikeout rate. That might not last, but even some regression would result in a much better than average strikeout rate.

Though he was never exactly a power hitter, he always flirted with double digit homers, so he has never been a complete zero there. Since he has a bit of power and posts a good strikeout rate, he just needs a bit of BABIP luck to actually be a positive contributor there. He’s an ideal short-term add for those needing MI or even CI help, even in leagues as shallow as 15-team mixed.

Devin Mesoraco | C NYM | 2% Owned

Sticking with the Mets theme, the team traded Matt Harvey rather quickly after surprisingly designating him for assignment on May 4th. In return, the team acquired a one-time top prospect who broke out offensively in 2014, but whose career has been ravaged by injuries. I guess he fits in quite well given the Mets catchers’ health records!

Mesoraco has been healthy all season, but has only recorded 45 plate appearances and has done nothing with them. This makes him a pure “close your eyes and cross your fingers” recommendation. We know injuries have crushed him. We also know that he was once a pretty good offensive prospect, with solid plate discipline, and real power potential. Those skills paid dividends in 2014, but never again. Though you could argue that he did earn some positive value back in 2013 in deep leagues.

He now has the best opportunity he has had in a while to play every day and turn his career around. The Mets have no one else worthy of giving at-bats too, which is why they made this desperation move to begin with. Fantasy owners in deep leagues in dire need of a second catcher (I’m sure that’s many of you) should absolutely take a shot here like the Mets are doing. There’s little downside and we know what the ultimate upside is, even if the likelihood of him achieving it is infinitely slim.