A Jose Reyes return to the Mets is looking more likely

The chances of Jose Reyes returning to the Mets appear to be growing more likely as what once seemed like a far-fetched scenario is growing closer to being real.

After designating Reyes for assignment last week, the Rockies today requested waivers to grant him his unconditional release. Barring the Rockies' working out a trade for Reyes before Saturday, which is unlikely due to the $40 million remaining on his contract, he will become available to sign with any major league team.

Reyes hasn’t played in a major league game since last season because he spent the first two months of this season serving a suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Reyes was arrested last October for an incident in which he allegedly assaulted his wife in a hotel room in Hawaii. He was set to stand trial in April, but charges were dropped when his wife declined to cooperate with the prosecution.

If Reyes, 33,  is released outright, the financial risk to the Mets would be minimal, as they’d only have to pay him a prorated portion of the veteran’s minimum salary for the rest of the 2016 season. Mets COO Jeff Wilpon has been a big supporter of bringing back Reyes, and it seems other team officials have warmed to the idea as well.

Reyes’s speed alone would prove something of an asset to the Mets, as he had 24 stolen bases in 116 games in 2015.