San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean did not want to discuss a report stating that the Giants have had internal discussions about acquiring New York Metsshortstop Jose Reyes.
"I can't respond to that. Honestly, I haven't seen or talked to Sandy Alderson since January ... I haven't talked to anybody from the Mets so I have no idea where the hell it came from," Sabean said prior to the Mets-Giants game. "So typical of today's world, I guess we're playing in New York and our shortstop [Miguel Tejada] isn't playing too well and [Reyes] is a free agent to be. It's connect-your-dots, so there's nothing to talk about. Talk to the clown from CBS or whatever outlet [expletive] came up with it."
A major league source told CSNBayArea.com Tuesday that the Giants have had internal discussions about acquiring Reyes, who becomes a free agent after this season.
They have the need, because third basemanPablo Sandoval is out for about seven weeks due to hand surgery; Tejada has moved from shortstop to third; and Fontenot, a utility man, is playing short. Mark DeRosa is supposed to be Sandoval's backup, but he's also shelved with a wrist injury.
The Mets, meanwhile, have financial woes, in part due to the lawsuit brought by the trustee for the victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme.
The Mets' ownership group is trying to sell a minority stake in the team to raise capital. High-priced players such as Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran very well could be shopped to contenders up to the trading deadline.
The Giants are treading water at 14-15 and are four games behind the Rockies in the NL West. They are 27th in the league in runs scored and 23rd in stolen bases.
Despite Reyes batting .325 with 19 runs scored and 11 steals, the Mets are last in the NL East, 7½ games behind the Phillies.
Reyes said before Wednesday's game that he hadn't heard of the report and that he was focused on staying productive for the Mets, who had lost four of five entering Wednesday's game.
"I don't know about that, I don't know. Like I said, I'm still a New York Met, so whatever happens, happens. I just want to play baseball," Reyes said.
The shortstop later added: "The only thing I can control right now is playing baseball, do what I do on the field. So the other stuff I can't control. I just need to stay focused and continue doing what I do."
The rumors surrounding the 27-year-old Reyes will only intensify as baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.
Reyes said he is not bothered by the speculation.
"I don't think about that kind of stuff. The rumor stuff. I just want to continue to play better because I know there's still things to improve," said Reyes, who added that he had not heard from his agent about any interest from other teams. "... That's my main thing right now. I can't control the other stuff that people say. Whatever happens, happens."
It's not clear, however, what the Giants would be willing to give up for a player they might not be able to re-sign. Reyes will be one of the top free agents this offseason.
