Helping out at the Mets annual coat drive today, reporters caught up with Mets RHP Zack Wheeler. He was asked about pitching in the bullpen, and he told MLB.com‘s Joe Trezza, “I’ve started my whole life, so obviously I’d like to do that. But I know they’re looking out for me.”
One of the reasons he would pitch out of the bullpen would be to conserve his innings and preserve his arm. About this, he said, “Whatever is best for my health is fine with me… My goal is to stay healthy the whole year, whether I’m starting or relieving.”
Wheeler also said that his arm feels good and hasn’t felt pain since April. “This is the best I’ve felt,” he told Trezza.
The Mets have Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, and Zack Wheeler all on track to be healthy for 2017, so having Wheeler come out and say he is more than willing to pitch out of the ‘pen should help the Mets administration determine who will be in the rotation. They have said they might explore a 6-man rotation at times to preserve innings.
Original Post – Dec 6
In one of the more surprising quotes to come from Sandy Alderson at the Winter Meetings, the Mets General Manager confirmed that the team is looking at possibly using Zack Wheeler out of the bullpen in 2017.
Wheeler, 26, is making his return from Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in a game since September 25, 2014. We had thought to see Wheeler at some point in 2016, but setbacks kept him off the mound.
“It’s one of the reasons to think about the ‘pen,” Alderson said. “He throws hard. Command’s always been a little bit of an issue.”
“Coming out of the ‘pen, take advantage of the power arm and try to minimize whatever lack of control may exist either fundamentally because that’s who he is or because of the layoff.” (NJ.com)
It is an interesting way to ease Wheeler back into a starting role with the Mets. One, that if used properly may be a bit less taxing on his arm in his first full season back. With the team also looking to solidify the back end of their bullpen, Wheeler may be as good as any to help do that.
“I’m just trying to think — not really outside the box, but just expansively where he might fit,” Alderson said. “There’s no reason for us to say, ‘Well, he’s got to be a starter.'”
“Now, he may feel that way himself. But it may be coming back after two years that he’s better off pitching out of the ‘pen.” (MLB.com)
The emergence of Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo has also complicated things for Wheeler as both rookies made their presence felt in 2016 in the starting rotation. Any combination of Gsellman, Lugo or Wheeler though could find themselves coming out of the bullpen to start the 2017 season.
With only one open spot in the rotation and three formidable candidates for it, it is sure to be an exciting battle that will go down to the wire in Spring Training.
