JUPITER -- The seesaw saga over who said what and when continues between Jose Reyes and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reported Thursday that Reyes continues to stick by his story that Loria urged him to buy a home in South Florida shortly before trading him to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Reyes also contended that his agent Peter Greenberg did not receive advance warning about the trade, though Greenberg acknowledged that Loria contacted him within 24 hours of the deal. However, Reyes was on vacation in Dubai, could not be reached, and learned about the trade second hand.
Reyes continues to stick by his story, saying Loria repeatedly suggested he buy a home in Miami.
"He did it during the season, too: 'Tell Jose to get a nice place in Miami, a good house,'" Reyes told the Post and New York Times on Thursday "He always told me that, me and Peter. I don't know why he said he didn't stay that. You can ask Peter if I'm a liar. He traded me, that's fine with me. Just be real with me. Be honest. Don't tell me to buy a house and get a nice place for my family and stuff when you (know) you're going to trade me."
As for receiving advance warning about the trade, Reyes said: "No, Peter didn't kow that (Loria) was going to trade me. That's a lie."
Loria told reporters this week that he never suggested to Reyes that he buy a home in Miami.
"What you were told was inaccurate," Loria said. "I never told him to buy a home. He was looking for a house. I will tell you that he came to an ALS dinner which I invited him to. He sat two people away from me. He came late. I asked him what he was doing in the next week. He told me he was going to Dubai. I said, Has your wife been down to Miami? He said yes she has gone down. She is looking for a home. I didn't say anything after that."
