Drafting Jose Reyes just got a whole lot riskier.
We didn't know exactly how MLB's new domestic violence policy would impact his availability for 2016, and we still don't. But for now at least, he's not available at all, going on paid leave until the legal side of his offseason incident is resolved.
Reyes is charged with domestic abuse of a family or household member. That charge distinguishes his situation from Aroldis Chapman's. Under the new policy, a player doesn't have to be charged to be suspended, but we're not even talking suspensions yet. Basically, commissioner Rob Manfred has decided that the law of the land will have its say before the law of the league does.
And the law of the land is notoriously slow. Reyes' trial won't begin until April 4, the day the Rockies' season begins, and it's not like he'll be able to hit the ground running when it's over, not after missing all of spring training. It's possible he could preempt the trial with a plea deal, which would move up the timeline, but even then, a suspension likely awaits.
And even then, it's not so clear that the Rockies would welcome him back. Reports said they were reluctant to have him around camp even before MLB came down with its ruling and have also suggested that they could make a run at Ian Desmond.
That'd be one way to resuscitate Desmond's value.
Of course, Fantasy owners were already hoping Coors Field would do that for Reyes, and the 32-year-old former first-round lock hit .323 with an .813 OPS in the 22 games he played there last year. It's possible he could wind up being the savior of the shortstop position if this news drops him from the middle rounds to the late rounds, especially in a year when steals appear to be scarce. Of course, it's also possible he and the Rockies give Fantasy owners the runaround, consuming a roster spot for months on end while they figure out exactly how to proceed.
Because they have options. Even if they don't go the Desmond route, they do have a near major league-ready prospect in Trevor Story, who's coming off a 20-20 season between Double- and Triple-A. He doesn't have quite the pedigree of 19-year-old Brendan Rodgers, the Rockies' first-round pick a year ago, but a shortstop with power at Coors Field could be a huge Fantasy asset if he can handle major-league pitching. The bigger question may be whether he can play major league-caliber defense at a position that requires it.
The Rockies' approach to Story this spring could provide some insight into their plans for Reyes. They wouldn't want to rush the 23-year-old, beginning his arbitration clock and potentially stalling his development, if they anticipated a short-term absence for Reyes, so if they run Story out there right away, they may be looking to turn the page.
And in that case, Reyes may be getting dropped in Fantasy leagues before he's of any use to anyone.
For now, I'm content to let him fall beyond more limited base stealers like Ketel Marte and Elvis Andrus, making him a risk-reward pick in the back third of mixed-league drafts, but his value could change drastically in the next few weeks depending how this situation unfolds.
