Tim Healey of Newsday reports that the Mets have signed Michael Wacha to a one-year deal, pending a physical. Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that the deal is for $3 million guaranteed with Wacha capable of earning up to $7 million in incentives.
Sherman was also the first to report that the Mets were in deep negotiations with the CAA client and former St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher.
Wacha, 28, made 24 starts and five relief appearances last year pitching 126.2 innings. Overall, Wacha was 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.563 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, and a 7.4 K/9. In many ways, this was a career-worst season for Wacha.
The 4.76 ERA and 90 ERA+ were the second-worst of his career. His 5.61 FIP, WHIP, and 1.89 K/BB were the worst of his career.
The positive was after being shut down in June 2018 with an oblique injury he was able to stay off the IL last season. In fact, with his going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation in 2016, two of his last three years entering the 2019 season were injury-shortened. On that note, he exited his September 25 start against the Diamondbacks with shoulder inflammation.
While there were indications he was improving, the Cardinals left Wacha off the NLDS and NLCS rosters.
On that note, Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said before the NLCS, “The great news is [Wacha] threw a very aggressive bullpen [Wednesday], but it’s just going to be difficult based on the time to get him in a spot where he can be on the roster potentially. But the good news for Michael, from just a physical standpoint, is he’s in a good place. We’ll ramp up his activity as we go and create an opportunity if it’s there for him.” (Anne Rogers, MLB.com)
While it is expected Wacha will be the Mets fifth starter, the Mets might continue with their plan to stretch out Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman this offseason to prepare them to be starters if necessary. The goal here is to provide the Mets with needed depth to open the season.
