Reyes won't discuss contract with Mets during season

Jose Reyes has told the Mets he will not discuss a new contract with the team during the season.

GM Sandy Alderson reached out to Reyes' agent, Peter Greenberg, last week, and after Reyes and Greenberg met at Reyes' house Monday, the shortstop made his decision.

"I just want to play baseball," Reyes said before Tuesday night's game against the A's at Citi Field. "There's plenty of time in the offseason to make this happen.

"I still want to be here," Reyes added. "I want to finish my career here. There's a long way to go. We'll see what happens."

If Reyes remains on the team at the end of the season, the Mets would have a five-day window for exclusive negotiating rights. There remains the possibility he could be traded by the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

"From my standpoint, it was important to make contact," Alderson said.

Alderson also made it clear that the Mets' play over the several weeks will not impact how they deal with Reyes' future. They are surprising contenders for the NL Wild Card.

"Obviously, we want to act in the best interest of the Mets long-term, and at this point, by virtue of reaching out to Jose, I think that's an indication that we feel having Jose with us long-term would be a real positive," Alderson said. "I think Jose's situation is not a function of whether we're winning or losing on a short-term basis in July. It may have something to do with other things that we do."

Reyes is taking a chance by not negotiating during the season, especially because he has been hampered by injuries in the past. He and his agents took that into account, especially with the recent fractured wrist of Cardinals impending free agent Albert Pujols, but opted to take the risk.

"Injuries are a part of the game," said Reyes, who has remained healthy this season and is leading the National League in hitting. "Right now, I don’t worry about injuries. I don’t want anything on my mind."

Reyes is expected to look for a contract similar to the one outfielder Carl Crawford signed with the Red Sox in the offseason for seven years and $142 million, and Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's 10-year, $157.5 million extension will likely be a barometer.

"It wasn’t a surprise," Alderson said of the Reyes news. "I'm not even sure I would label it a disappointment, the fact it wasn’t a surprise. We still have a very good working relationship with both Jose and his agent."

Alderson said keeping Reyes with the Mets now helps their chances of keeping him later.

"It's hard to say, but my gut reaction is yes, having a player in-house for that length of time strengthens one's chances," Alderson said.

Additional reporting by Joel Sherman and Mark Hale