Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

According to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the best player in baseball doesn’t play in the Bronx, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto or St. Louis.

He plays in Queens.

“They have the world’s greatest player playing shortstop over there, and the most exciting,” Rodriguez said, referring to electrifying New York Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes. “I turn on the TV every time I get a chance to watch him.”

Reyes is enjoying what Rodriguez called an “all-world” season for the Mets in 2011. He currently leads the majors with 121 hits, 15 triples and is tied with Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez for the top spot with a .352 batting average. Reyes ranks second in stolen bases (30) and runs scored (65).

The Mets shortstop seemed surprised by Rodriguez’s appraisal.

“I appreciate that from him. But that’s something that, it’s not going to go to my head,” Reyes said. “But I appreciate that, that he said that. He’s a good friend of mine too, Alex. So it’s good, man. He’s one of the best players in the game. So I appreciate it.”

Reyes is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and despite what Mets owner Fred Wilpon said, could very well command a contract equal to — if not higher than — the seven-year, $142 million deal given to Red Sox left fielderCarl Crawford last offseason.

“I’m a huge baseball fan and anytime you see a kid like Reyes, he’s very exciting,” Rodriguez said Friday afternoon before the Yankees took on the Mets at Citi Field. “If I wasn’t playing third base, I’d definitely buy a ticket and try to come all weekend (to the Subway Series), because you have great players all over the field, and right now, there’s not a player out there that’s playing at a higher level than Jose Reyes.”

Rodriguez, who was playing shortstop for the Rangers when Reyes made his Mets debut in Texas on June 10, 2003, has made comments about Reyes in the past that were perceived as somewhat of a slight toward Yankees captain Derek Jeter.

WRITTEN BY Mike Mazzeo is a regular contributor to ESPN NewYork.com. Information from ESPNNewYork.com’s Ian Begley was used in this report.