Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters on Monday that the team will extend the qualifying offer to Zack Wheeler before the 5 p.m. ET deadline tonight. The qualifying offer actually went down to $17.8 this offseason.
The former first round pick will then have until November 14 to decide whether to accept or decline the offer.
Brodie also noted that the Mets have had conversations with Wheeler on a long-term contract and they will continue to if/when he declines the qualifying offer.
Wheeler, 29, is likely to decline the offer and hit free agency for the first time in his career. The right-hander posted a 3.96 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 126 WHIP, and 4.1 bWAR during the 2019 season. He also threw a career-high 195 1/3 innings and made 31 starts.
FanGraphs released their Top 50 free agent piece with crowdsourced predictions on contracts, they have the median number for Wheeler pegged at four-years, $72 million.
Van Wagenen did mention on Monday that righties Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman could be used as starting pitching depth in 2020.
