New York (AFP) – Dominican shortstop Jose Reyes, who started the Major League Baseball season on a 51-game suspension related to a domestic violence incident, signed a minor-league contract Saturday with the New York Mets.
The 33-year-old spent his first nine major league seasons with the Mets and was a free agent for only minutes after being waived by the Colorado Rockies before the Mets inked him to a deal.
Reyes was set to join the Brooklyn Cyclones, three levels below the major leagues, for what would likely be a tuneup stint before rejoining the Mets since Reyes has not played this season.
The Rockies released Reyes once he returned to active status after serving a 51-game ban under Major League Baseball’s domestic abuse policy. Reyes was charged with physically assaulting his wife in a Hawaii hotel room last October.
“I deeply regret the incident that occurred and remain remorseful and apologetic to my family,” Reyes said in a statement. “I have completed the counseling required by Major League Baseball, have been in ongoing therapy and will continue with counseling going forward.
“I appreciate the Mets organization for believing in me and providing the opportunity to come back home to New York.”
The Rockies remain responsible for more than $40 million remaining on Reyes’ contract.
Reyes, the Mets career leader in stolen bases and triples, spent nine years with the club before signing with Miami as a free agent for the 2012 campaign. He then spent more than two years with Toronto before joining the Rockies last season.
The four-time all-star has a .290 career batting average with 479 stolen bases over 13 seasons.
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