Mets manager Mickey Callaway has told reporters that the club plans to move longtime starter and former ace Matt Harvey to the bullpen (h/t Mike Puma of the New York Post). He’ll reportedly be available as a reliever beginning on Tuesday.
Obviously, the move is by no means permanent. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com shared a video tweet of Callaway discussing the topic. “I think he’s motivated to go out there and show everyone that he can start again at some point,” he told reporters. “And Dave and I are going to take the approach that we’re gonna do everything we can to help him do that.”
It’s worth noting right off the bat that this isn’t just a fluff statement. As Callaway himself says in the video (which is well worth watching in its entirety), he’s seen pitchers go to the bullpen and “come out of it better than they were before.” Most notably, Callaway oversaw the transition of talented Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco from a starter role to the bullpen and back to the rotation. That transition period ultimately jumpstarted Carrasco’s career, and was no doubt a significant contributing factor in his development into a pitcher who ranks seventh in MLB in fWAR since the start of the 2015 season. Callaway was also present for fellow Cleveland hurler Mike Clevinger’s transition to the bullpen and back, so it’s perfectly fair to think this may just be a temporary measure to help Harvey work on things with the ultimate plan of converting him back to a hopefully improved starting pitcher.
Regardless of any of that, it certainly isn’t a pleasing development for the 29-year-old Harvey (he certainly didn’t seem happy in this video). Just yesterday, he candidly told reporters that he sees himself as a starting pitcher. “I’m a starting pitcher,” he said at the time. “I’ve always been a starting pitcher, and I think I showed in the fifth and sixth inning that I could get people out still in the fifth and sixth inning when my pitch count gets up, so I am a starting pitcher.” As I noted in a poll just hours ago, though, that’s not up to Harvey; it’s up to Mets management. Speaking of which, over 80% of you believed at that time that New York should move Harvey to the ’pen.
In regards to Harvey’s impending free agency, the position change certainly doesn’t help his earning power. Relievers make significantly fewer dollars on the open market than starters, and if Harvey can’t turn his performance around he’s unlikely to make even eight figures if he enters that market as a bullpen arm. Although it seems worth mentioning that Harvey’s free agent stock was already at an all-time low, so if he develops into any semblance of a useful reliever, he could still out-earn what he was likely to make on the open market had he continued to pitch the way he was pitching as a starter.
This situation will be well worth monitoring across the next few weeks. Harvey could certainly figure something out that helps his game, and merit a return to the rotation sooner than later. And even amidst all the hoopla about his position change, it’s easily possible that an injury to one of Jason Vargas, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz could necessitate Harvey’s return to the starting five. For the time being, though, it will be interesting to see how Callaway utilizes Harvey in his new role with the club.
We were right
Jack warned him
Hope he can handle this. He’s a real prima donna.
So is his agent. Probably not heard last of this.
His agent isn’t a moron. This isn’t the hill to die upon, while I personally would have given him one more start it’s hard to argue this is being made for any reason other than best interest of the team and it’s certainly not crazy.
you got that right
Cool
As much as he doesn’t want this, it needed to be done. He’s been trailing off every season since he broke into the majors.
As much as he didn’t want this it needed to be done.
Hope he handles it alright. Seems like he has a chance to salvage his career in the bullpen.
It’s the right move.
Hmmmm let’s see what all the Johnny Superscouts have to say
Hmmm. Get a new shtick . This one is way old!
So the Mets broke David Wright, Johan Santana, and Matt Harvey. What a great team to play for
How did they break Wright? And I’m not sure when you’re claiming they broke Harvey but if it was having him pitch the 9th inning in that WS game, that was his choice.
Won’t disagree on Santana but I suspect he also was insisting on finishing that game.
“ . . . not sure when you’re claiming they broke Harvey . . . “
I’m not mike.gordon but I’d suggest that the Mets “broke” Harvey in 2015 when they let him pitch more than 210 innings (including the postseason) in his first season back from TJ surgery. His WS start was just the ultimate chapter. Collins allowing him to go out for the ninth (?) inning should have been his last act as manger.
Compare that to the way the Nats handled Strasburg in 2012, then compare the results. No guarantee that more careful handling would have led to better results, of course. But it doesn’t appear that Los Mets did Mr. Harvey any favors by letting him pitch ‘till he dropped.
Major flaw, you mentioned it was a “WS start” that “doomed” Harvey.
Let me know what organization has held back a premier pitcher during a playoff run due to his innings limit. Especially a World Series game.
The Nats held back Stras, then again, they have not won a single playoff series during his prime years in DC.
Can’t think of another, can you?
theruns
“You mentioned it was a “WS start” that “doomed” Harvey.”
No, sir, I did not. You must have me confused with someone else. Particularly as you use quotes, I know you aren’t quoting me. Wanna double check your work?
“The Nats held back Stras, then again, they have not won a single playoff series . . . “
Correct and correct. However “post hoc ergo propter hoc” remains the oldest logical fallacy in the book.
What you want to demonstrate is that the Nats choice to shut Strasburg down in 2012 was responsible not only for their failure to advance that year but their failures in 2014, 2016 and 2017 as well. Instead you offer mere argument that because A preceded B, A caused B.
One could just as easily point out that A) the Mets let Harvey continue pitching in 2015 and B) since then he has spent more time on the DL than the entire Nats starting five combined. Doesn’t prove causation any more than your point about the Nats repeated first round exits, but there it is.
Correlation without causation sounds better.
What about another example of a team shutting down a premier pitcher in the World Series because of an inning limit?
Or because of Boras, who forced the shutdown of Stras and wanted to shut down Harvey in the playoffs?
These players, and these organizations, are trying to win a ring. Whether you want to admit it, no player is above that, no matter what Boras wants.
theruns
You appear to have forgotten the fact that you put someone else’s words in my mouth in your previous comment. I’d have expected you to address that in some manner. It doesn’t disappear simply because you choose to ignore it. The fact that you haven’t owned up to it doesn’t disappear either.
“What about another example of a team shutting down a premier pitcher in the World Series because of an innings limit?”
What’s your point? The Nats chose to handle Strasburg conservatively, the Mets let Harvey decide for himself. Six years later, Strasburg remains a “premiere” starting pitcher, three years later Harvey had TOS and has yet to return to anywhere near previous form. I’m sure the Nats have no regrets about shutting Strasburg down in 2012. Do the Mets remain similarly confident that they chose the correct course with Harvey?
Not sure why you see the Strasburg/Harvey comp as favoring the Mets, because their NL flag will continue waving long after Harvey has been DFA?
“Or because of Boras, who forced the shutdown of Stras . . . “
Silliness. Boras has no such power. Not over the team and not over the player. You undercut your entire argument when you post nonsense like this.
“ . . . and wanted to shut down Harvey in the playoffs?”
An agent who wanted to protect his client’s health? Can’t have that. Although Harvey’s post-2015 performance would appear to support Boras concern that Harvey was being used too much for his first year back from TJ surgery.
“Whether you want to admit it . . . “
Rather than concerning yourself with what I am willing to admit, how about focusing on proving your own statements. This is your second consecutive fact-free comment comprised of rhetorical questions and conclusory statements. You saying something is so doesn’t make it so, get it? You’ve gotta show your work as well as your attitude.
“ . . . no player is above that, no matter what Boras wants.”
Not even clear what you mean here. Players should be expected, encouraged and permitted to ignore the advice of the doctors and other professionals who handle their surgery and recovery and keep pitching until their arms falls off? What is your point?
Despite your lenghty law school response, I did not put words in your mouth.
You posted, in a threat about Matt Harvey, that the Mets “broke” Matt Harvey because they let him pitch too many innings in 2015.
I responded by asking you to name any pitcher, besides Stras, who was ever shut down in the playoffs because of an innings limit situation. In other words, any MLB team, in their right minds, is going to let their number one starter pitch when they are in a World Series run.
You responded with a lot of words, and no examples… only a proud proclamation about Stras remaining healthy.
Congrats to him.
You also responded with the laughable suggestion that Scott Boras “had nothing to do” with Strasburg being shut down. I suggest you use google and find the 10,000 stories that indicate otherwise. Boras was practically running the Nats at that point, the power he held over that owner and GM was astounding.
I’m not even arguing the Nats were wrong to shut him down, it was their decision, and it worked out well for Strasburg and Scott Boras.
My argument is your critique of the Mets and what they did is also wrong. No team gets together in March and says, “Ok guys, we want to have a great year this year but most important, we have to make sure we keep an eye on Matt Harvey’s innings limit so he can stay healthy and sign a massive extension.”
I mean, of course they want their #1 starter to remain healthy thoroughout his contract, but priority number one is winning a World Series. Period. No matter how good one player might be, he is not above that.
There is health risk in any professional sport. Since professional sports began, athletes have been placed in situations where their health was secondary to their team trying to win a championship. It might sound cruel, but it is what it is.
They didn’t ask him to clear a minefield, they asked him to pitch 20 extra innings, when he was feeling really good, and pitching at a very high level.
Maybe those extra 20 innings did him in?
Maybe they didn’t. Maybe him showing up to camp a bloated 20 lbs overweight caught up with him?
Maybe his drinking and partying caught up with him?
Maybe he just broke because throwing 92 MPH sliders is a totally unreasonable physical activity?
I’m sure this situation will come up again soon, it will be interesting to see how teams respond.
OK, now you’re just flat out lying. Here’s what I wrote:
“I’d suggest that the Mets “broke” Harvey in 2015 when they let him pitch more than 210 innings (including the postseason) in his first season back from TJ surgery. His WS start was just the ultimate chapter.”
And here’s what you wrote:
“You mentioned that it was a “WS start”that “doomed” Harvey.”
#1. I never used the word “doomed”—that is your invention, and pretending to quote me while using your own words is about as dishonest as it gets.
#2. A fair reading of my original comment would be the exact opposite of what you claim. The problem was letting Harvey pitch ~50 innings more than Strasburg under similar circumstances, not his final WS start.
You have created and continued this debate/discussion under false pretenses. While I enjoy discussing and debating baseball I won’t waste any more time on a liar. Good day.
In the spirit of debate, you do realize the different circumstances of Strasburg and Harvey’s injuries?
You call their circumstances similar, but they are actually quite different. Strasburg was back on the mound within 11 months on rehab starts, and less than 12 months after his surgery he was back on a major league mound.
Harvey took a longer rehab road, and did not pitch competitively for 18 months after his surgery, a huge difference.
Actually, if you count the days from surgery to shut down, within the identical amount of time Harvey threw a whopping 13 more innings than Strasburg. (216 for Harvey, 203 for Strasburg)
So are we to believe that those 13 innings did him in?
And again, you are ignoring the fact that Harvey has had off the field issues with drinking, and has seen significant weight fluctuation over the last few years… a horrible sign in terms of conditioning habits.
That might have a lot more to do with his body betraying him than pitching past his innings limit.
He was also seriously abused as a college pitcher, where he worked games with absurd pitch counts.
Mets opponents are devestated
The Washington Nationals have been seen dancing in the street……A Dark Night sets over City Field………
I live a few minutes from Citi in Queens and I kid you not that the sun hasn’t been brighter in weeks. Mother Nature must be a Mets fan.
It’s been a long time since the days of the much anticipated matchup of Harvey and Strasburg and the crowd at Citi chanting, “Harvey’s better.”
I would think he is better off as a reliever this season. Mets just potentially gained another reliever while Nationals’ bullpen is suffering from poor performance, overuse, and little help coming their way. This is a solid move by Mets. I hope Harvey accepts this graciously. My point is that Nationals or other NL East teams shouldn’t be happy about Harvey not being in rotation.
Trade him to the Yankees for Robertson
Yankees would never accept that.
Unless they took Ellsbury too.
I SAID BURN HIM AT THE STAKE!
There’s still time. They may decide to burn him at the stake if the pen thing doesn’t work out.
From my previous comment on the Poll Post…he took the Red Pill.
Wow, what a fall from grace. Did the Mets ever try to open extension talks with him and get rejected? If so, that’s not looking like a smart move by him now.
It’s a case in point that all young players need to remember. So much money in the game but not everyone benefits equally. That’s why it may make sense for most to consider locking in that first real contract if the team makes a reasonable offer. That said Harvey is already financially well off compared to most of us. He’s just not nearly where he expected he would be.
Get your head out of your $&@ and just pitch. Seems the problem with Harvey (and Matz) is more between the ears than in the arm.
So far the success rate of pitchers coming back from TOS suggests it might actually be his arm, but his giant head probably doesn’t help his mechanics either.
he needs a change of scenery
Agreed
oof
Both 2015 World Series participants probably wishing they could go back to that offseason. Mets and Royals would’ve been smart to sell some of its pieces back then.
well the mets are in a much better spot today than the royals are
Harvey is done
Earning power? Lol, if he keeps pitching like the way he has he’ll be lucky to land a minor league contract.
Familia was 8-for-8 in Save opportunities with 0.00 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.
Today’s game he gave up his first run of the season (happens.. and now has 0.77 ERA, with man on first and third, 0 outs in 3-3 game in bottom of the 9th. God speed.
Update 4-3, Mets lose, Familia gives up 2ER, 0.2 IP, and has his in-season 0.00 ERA jump to 1.50 ERA in 12 IP — 8/9 SV
Cespedes’ HR that initially made it a 5-2 game, half inning prior would have been a 417 ft home run… replay..foul ball
thanks for the update?
I was going to allude to, Harvey taking over Familia’s closer role, but opted not to, because even as a joke—it wasn’t funny^
Wierd day for sure, but I still think Familia’s legit. — Good luck fixing Harvey… I believe he will pull off an Amazin’ transformation.
Harvey is arrogant, delusional, and lacks all accountability. MLB tonight showed a stat where the “average” hitter vs Harvey has stats equivalent to Kris Bryant’s actual statistics.
He’ll be out of baseball in short order unless he gets over himself. Harvey’s clearly on the “Hey, didn’t you used to be….” career track with his mess of a mindset.
trade him to Jeter and the Marlins for their catcher…pay his salary too…just dump him
It can teach you how to finish innings. It might help him finish the 5th and 6th innings when he starts. He’ll get into the bullpen mentality.
Maybe he’ll have success in the bullpen, but probably not since his stuff just isn’t very good any longer.
If Harvey wants to extend his career, he might need to model himself after Ivan Nova and become a veteran innings eater. Nova doesn’t have good stuff, but he mixes speed and location. He gets outs and eats innings.
After typing this, I realize I also described Bartolo Colon, so Harvey has seen up close how it works. If he can swallow his pride and honestly assess his current skill set, he might be able to make the adjustments necessary.
Also, as I think about Colon still pitching for Texas, I realize the Rangers would be a perfect landing spot for Harvey if he is ever to get another chance to start. Bad rotation, no pressure to win, etc.
That also describes the O’s and Red’s but those ballparks would ruin him further.
Harvey’s career has been over already for 2 years. He will be like Lincecum over the last 5 years trying to audition and prove he has something left but there isn’t.
29 and you’ve won 34 games. It’s time to maybe reevaluate what you are and adjust.
I love reading bad news concerning the Mets. Thank you MLB Trade Rumors!