In an interview with John Harper of SNY, New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler — quite bluntly, in fact — addressed his mindset heading into his final arbitration-eligible season. With free agency looming in the not-so-distant future, it appears the 28-year-old right-hander is pushing all of his chips on the table, wagering on himself to replicate his phenomenal 2018 campaign.
“I’m pretty close to free agency so obviously it would have to be right on my end. You’re this close, this is what you work for, to get to free agency,” Wheeler said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to stay here, but it’s gotta be right. I hate saying that. I’m not that type of person, but it’s just the way it is right now.”
To be honest, from a fan’s standpoint, Wheeler’s comments are refreshing. He clearly has enough confidence in himself to let last year’s success ride, with the presumable end-game being a free-agent contract commensurate with what a pitcher of his caliber deserves.
Though, as per Harper, the Mets haven’t contacted Wheeler’s representation regarding an extension, one would imagine Wheeler’s people could have easily capitalized on his outstanding 2018 campaign by initiating dialogue with the Mets regarding a team-friendly extension a la Luis Severino‘s four-year $40 million deal with the Yankees, agreed upon earlier this week.
Wheeler came back from an injury-plagued three years to absolutely shine for the Mets last season. Over 29 starts (182.1 innings), the 28-year-old pitched to career-bests with his 3.31 earned-run average, 3.25 fielding independent pitching rating, 3.81 xFIP, 4.1 wins above replacement (FanGraphs), and 2.71 walks per nine innings.
Over the second half of the season, Zack Wheeler was one of the most effective starters in the National League. His 1.68 ERA ranked second in the league over that span (Trevor Williams, 1.38 ERA), his 2.53 FIP ranked fifth (Jacob deGrom, 1.53), and his 21.1 percent hard-hit rate ranked just behind Noah Syndergaard‘s 20.8 percent mark over that time.
Sure are a lot of Mets in that paragraph, no? The strides the starting rotation took under pitching coach Dave Eiland over the last three months of the season last year were substantial. Having this type of productivity come from your first three starters is fear-inducing for opposing teams who have the unfortunate designation of facing them.
With all of the talent strewn about this roster, specifically the pitching staff, the Smyrna, Georgia native apparently wants to see this thing through before worrying about what’s to come next.
“I’ve never won, so I really want to win. And I want to do it with these guys,” Wheeler told Harper. “Our pitching has been talked up for so long now, I just want to do it and have some fun. Winning in New York, you can’t beat it.”
If Wheeler can stay healthy and continue on this awe-inspiring trajectory he’s been on since the start of the 2018 season, he has every right to test the waters on the open market. He’s earned that right. The uphill battle he’s faced to make it back to this point is admirable. To be able to reach the zenith he did last year is simply amazing.
Hopefully, things go precisely to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s plan and Mickey Callaway‘s gang can indeed go out and win. If all goes well, maybe Zack Wheeler does consider sticking around. Just keep in mind, the door swings both ways. If he holds up his end of the bargain, Brodie & the Mets had better do all they can to keep Wheeler in blue and orange for a while.
