Despite the increasingly worrying health issues and pitching struggles of former Mets ace Matt Harvey, the club isn’t ready to give up on his talent. As GM Sandy Alderson tells Mike Puma of the New York Post, “it’s high unlikely that we’re not going to bring [Harvey] back next year.”
Harvey is still just 28 years old and isn’t far removed from being one of the game’s most dominant starters. If there was concern when he limped to a 4.86 ERA in 17 starts last year, though, it’s all the more pressing now that he has surrendered 6.59 earned per nine through the same number of outings in the current season.
The enigmatic righty has averaged less than five frames per start while managing only 6.6 K/9 against an uncharacteristic 4.5 BB/9. He has seen his velocity waver over the course of the season (with an average that’s down one mph from last year and two mph from the prior season). And his swinging-strike rate has plummeted to 7.5% and yet more arm problems have arisen during the year.
Despite all that, New York evidently sees value in tendering Harvey a contract in his final year of arbitration eligibility. And that’s really not surprising. Harvey will get at least a marginal raise on this year’s $5.125MM arb salary, but the bill will remain well within range of the one-year guarantees that other interesting bounceback type pitchers command in free agency.
While there’s some risk in paying Harvey, notes Puma, there’s probably even greater risk to the front office if it lets him find his form elsewhere. And it isn’t as if the team can’t use the possible innings that Harvey will be expected to provide; talent and uncertainty abound in the rest of the staff, too.
For now, Alderson says, the club will “keep running him out there and see what happens.” It seems that’ll be the approach in 2018 as well — so long as the Mets don’t find a surprise trade and Harvey shows enough promise in camp that he isn’t cut loose to avoid fully guaranteeing his arb payout.
They love getting embarrassed then.
Good news for the rest of the NL East.
I know it’s extremely rare, but if Harvery doesn’t get reduced Arbitration salary like Brett Lawrie who agreed to avoid arbitration by accepting $3.5MM salary 1 year after making $4.125MM thru arbitration then the system is broken.
Harvey*
Then it’s broken. The arb system reads more into tenure and position than results. I agree that leads to absurd conclusions, as it will here. But the system produces cheaper, more predictable outcomes than free agency, so the owners agree to it. Some cases are nonsensical, but on the whole, owners are comfortable with the aggregate results, compared to the alternative.
It’s not broken. The system is built based on service time and building toward free agency.
The owners and teams get reduced player expenses based on this. Their discount is lessened as players pay their dues.
Arbitration isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as designed. It’s just designed poorly.
Excellent points and agree with all of them, I just wish paycuts were more common for these type of situations. I get it Harvey has potential and has performed in the past, but I don’t think 6.59 ERA this year (and rising) should warrant any type of marginal raise over his 5.125MM arb salary.
It’s ok though, $5MM to find out in his final year of arb. is nothing, even to teams like the Mets and if I understand correctly, Scott Boras is his agent so it’s going to be a tough sell (unless you threaten to non-tender less’ he accepts your reduced arb salary but then it gets ugly)
“just run him out there and see what happens”? that’s the best idea he could come up with? how about trying a different training regimen,or a different arm slot,or maybe even have him prepare to be a reliever in the off-season? But hey, that’s why they pay him the big bucks
Yeah I never get it when the FO makes a statement like that. It makes it sound as though the org doesn’t really care what happens. Like “oh well, if he fixes himself somehow great, if not eh.” Almost like they’re not really counting on even trying next season. I get 2018s outlook isn’t great for the Mets but it could probably be worse. If anything else I feel they should maintain some positivity in their comments.
“it’s high unlikely that we’re not going to bring [Harvey] back next year.”
Typically, Sandy uses double negatives to issue a neutral, not positive, statement. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the Cautious Captain.
Alas, Harvey’s skills have become like Harvey the Rabbit: Invisible.
Maybe Elwood P. Dowd should become the Mets’ pitching coach.
It is tough to see a talented guy like him fall on such hard times. I wonder what role 2015 season playing into his current form. Hopefully he picks it up again next season.
His implosion in the World Series after throwing a temper tantrum to be left in the game destroyed him. His days as an elite pitcher are through.
Pretty sure TJ and TOS surgeries destroyed him.
Sandy & Company (you too Matt) – BULLPEN – nothing embarrassing about that to get straightened out -then stretch out for starting role!
Boras would raise a major stink with that in his walk year, no matter how badly Harvey has done last 2y.
I think Harvey will disappear to Boras’s supposed “health camp” over the winter and show up fairly healthy in ST, then do his best for maximum earnings this final season before FA.
Right now I would think Boras would want to increase his value, they need to look at reality – nobody will pay big bucks for what he has done before all the injuries. The “run him out there” mentality is putting too much pressure (i.e. major leap forward rather than “baby steps” by throwing a clean inning here and there
MH will be able to “cut it loose so to speak for an inning or even a few batters…starting he has to try to put up a quality start, or last 5 innings or longer..like golf – 1 hole at a time rather than shoot 65…
I can’t blame the Mets for tendering him a contract. He will be in a contract year. He has to be better than the Matt Harvey we have seen the past 2 years.
The Mets needs to go after Derek Holland. This kid is worth it. He mighta had a down year this year. But all he needs is a team that will give him some innings and chance. He’s a workhorse. He will have a great season in 18
Lol
Thanks, Cousin Tex ! Keep posting that in every article ! Maybe someone will take notice and sign me !
–Cousin Derek
Thanks cousin Lester for plugging me to get a contract with the Mets. I spoke with my agent who is a recent high school graduate. He advised me against “wasting time negotiating with the Cheap Wilpon’s and powerless Sandy. He also warned me “don’t play for a club that is so loose your shoulder or elbow could be blown out easily.
Sandy is such an over-the-hill leader. He speaks in double negatives with conditioners so he is sure to not break his word.
How about having a press conference and announcing, “Ive been aware for some time that I am no longer capable of running a major league franchise. Coupled with working for frugal owners who are not all in, the reality has sunk in that I should retire. This franchise needs new owners who should completely clean house and hire a management group to run it professionally. The fans of NY City deserve a legitimate National League franchise; not the charade and ruse that we have been manipulating.”
But if he did that, how could they sell more copies of “Baseball Maverick: How Sandy Alderson Revolutionized Baseball and Revived the Mets” ?
U forgot ur hourly dig at “TC” for being the reason Mets pitchers get hurt, and Rosario’s stomach bug, and Flores broken nose…
Frank-Such a sweet post. It’s not hourly, and certainly not embellished with make believe fluff as I have never mentioned Rosario’s stomach bug and Flores broken nose.
Nice try to deflect attention from the bullseye here. “TC” has mismanaged pitchers. Take the subject of the moment, Matt Harvey who “talked his way” into the last inning of the World Series when he had nothing left in the tank. Whether caving to a players’ plea like that, thors refusal for a proper exam, or any other soap opera story from the Mets, THE BOTTOM LINE is that your buddy “TC” is not an effective leader or manager.
And as further proof that this incompetency in systemic, Alderstein should have fired him years ago.
So grab your Gang Green Helmet, saddle up and go sit in the corner Frank.
He built a World Series team in 2015 and a playoff team in 2016.
Hey Joe – 2 points for the record.
Only a Mets fan would define true success as a World Series appearance or playoff team.
Sandy “built” those teams with core resources scouted, recruited and developed under his predecessor.
What should Alderson say? “Oh, god no, we can’t have Matt Harvey back. He sucks now!” Yeah, that would give them great leverage in potential trade talks. Of course he’s saying they expect Harvey back…he’s contracted to them at the moment. I find it doubtful Harvey pitches for the Mets next season. They’ll look to trade him this offseason (I think a deal between Mets/Phillies—Harvey for Maikal Franco—could work for both teams), and if not likely release him. They’re not going to pay $5-$6M for his performance.
Harvey at least, still has some youth to his side. He’ll be 29 on opening day next year. If he was 35+, then I’d say the last 2 years are the start of the end of his career, but since he’s not, I wouldn’t give up on Harvey just yet. I’d give him one more chance to stay healthy, and prove he can still be a force in the rotation.
This is a pitcher who like 3-4 years ago started the All Star Game, and was trusted by his manager a couple seasons ago to get the remaining outs in a World Series elimination game. The potential is still there they just need to figure out how to control his life off the baseball field and keep him healthy.
rumor has it harvery will get 10 years and david wright will be extended 5 years from the mets while still paying bobby bonilla.
If Severino can rebound into a Cy Young season, so can Harvey.
Severino didn’t really “rebound”. He just naturally progressed. He had a really up and down year last year for sure. But the two situations are vastly different.
Severino did not blow past his doctor recommended innings limit. And Severino’s rebound is a result of listening to stern advice: lay off the weight lifting.
This is not part of the Mets vocabulary and even if they knew how to pronounce it, they would not speak it as they tip toe around their players.