With the emergence of Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman in 2016, the Mets are left with a good problem. They have seven capable starting pitchers. In addition to those two, they also have Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, and Zack Wheeler who are all expected to be healthy come opening day.
With that surplus and most likely five spots available in the rotation, two of those men will have to give. Their options are either to start the season in the rotation at AAA Las Vegas or in the Major League bullpen.
Anthony DiComo tweeted that RHP Zack Wheeler, 26, might be starting 2017 out of the bullpen. The hard thrower is coming off Tommy John surgery. He was expected back as early as July last year and was dragged down by setbacks, but he is on track to be healthy at the start of next year.
This would make sense for a few reasons, the first of which being that it would curtail his innings in the beginning of the season. It would allow him to have sort of an extended Spring Training with the ability to gradually increase his workload until he shows that he is able to join the rotation. In the case of an early inning implosion by a Mets starter, he could be called upon as a long man.
He also has a repertoire that would work very well out of the bullpen, and if he is able to let loose as opposed to pacing himself over six or seven innings, his fastball could reach into the high 90s. That, along with his plus curveball, plus slider, and average changeup, should play well late in games.
