Zack Wheeler tells SNY’s John Harper that the Mets have yet to approach him about a contract extension, adding that while’s he’s open to talks and hopes to remain with the team, any contract “would have to be right on my end” given his proximity to free agency. Harper’s piece has extensive quotes from Wheeler, who sounds earnest in his desire to stay with the Mets but not necessarily at a discounted rate with free agency on the horizon next winter. Wheeler says his representatives have pointed out to him that he’ll be among the market’s youngest starters alongside Gerrit Cole next season, which bodes well for him. Of course, it should be noted that Alex Wood is younger than both and that the market is currently set to feature some big fish who are slightly older (e.g. Madison Bumgarner, Chris Sale) and substantially older but nonetheless elite (e.g. Justin Verlander).
All that said, if Wheeler can come within a stone’s throw of his utterly dominant finish to the season — 2.06 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 8.9 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9, 44.8 percent grounder rate over his final 100 2/3 innings — he should indeed be poised for a strong payday. And, as Harper points out, the Mets’ farm is hardly teeming with high-end prospects to replace him.
Here’s more from Queens (er… from Port St. Lucie)…
- Newsday’s David Lennon previews the Mets’ upcoming decision with first base prospect Pete Alonso (who has evidently dropped the “r” from his first name in favor of a monosyllabic moniker). The young slugger looked largely ready for a big league promotion last September, and his representatives were among the numerous agents throughout the league who decried what indeed looked to be another case of service time manipulation when Alonso did not receive an MLB call-up. With Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier ailing, though, Alonso’s bat could be all the more necessary. Meanwhile, new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and manager Mickey Callaway have indicated that a player’s destination at the end of camp will be based on merit and nothing more. If Alonso has a strong spring effort, he’d put that to the test. The Mets would only need to send him down for just over two weeks to buy an extra year of team control, though the NL East figures to be ferociously competitive in ’19, so there’s every reason for all four presumptive contenders to put forth their best rosters right off the bat come Opening Day.
- Dominic Smith chatted with Kyle Glaser of Baseball America on Tuesday and discussed changes to his offseason diet and workout programs as well as the extensive work he’s done in terms of watching video and making mechanical alterations to his swing. Once heralded as the Mets’ first baseman of the future, Smith has been leapfrogged for the time being by Alonso, though at just 23 years of age, he spoke confidently about the room for growth his youth still provides. Smith also discussed the “mixed emotions” of watching the Mets add pieces throughout the winter, explaining that the increased competition adds a level of excitement and energy to camp that hasn’t been there the past few seasons. Even after a down season in 2018, Smith is a career .300/.361/.460 hitter in 875 Triple-A plate appearances.
- Infielder T.J. Rivera, who missed the entire 2018 season following 2017 Tommy John surgery, is “having trouble getting over the hump” in his rehab from that procedure, Callaway told reporters (Twitter link via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). The now-30-year-old Rivera is still experiencing discomfort in his elbow and doesn’t appear close to seeing action in a Grapefruit League contest, DiComo notes. While Rivera hasn’t been considered a likely factor in the team’s Opening Day infield mix anyway, the fact that he’s still not ready for game action is of more note with veterans Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier sidelined by respective knee and oblique issues. The Mets still have depth with Jeff McNeil, Amed Rosario, Robinson Cano, Alonso Smith and J.D. Davis as options around the infield, to say nothing of non-roster invitee Adeiny Hechavarria.
Not real sure why Davis hasn’t gotten a look at third base so far this spring hopefully he does soon.
He did. He actually made a nice diving grab glove side but couldn’t get the throw off
Thing is, Dom Smith is a true 1B whereas Pete Alonso is a DH – he’s easily the worst 1B I’ve ever seen.
You just start watching baseball?
How about Ed Kranepool?
Or mo Vaughn?
Dom smith with another tale of his “diet” and “training”.
Thome, Piazza, Edwin Encarnacion, Frank Thomas – but yeah – Alonso is the worst.
Marvelous “Marv” Thornberry
Dick Stuart aka Dr Strangeglove
You havent seen him play.
Alonso really stinks, like WORSE than Mo was.
NL needs that DH and the Mets will have the perfect guy.
The Mets made the Cano trade with the expectation of the NL converting to DH. Too bad the league didn’t cooperate. It will be a great right side of the infield with Alonso at first and 40 y.o. slow Cano at second.
How about ken Phelps or Steve balboni
Yeah Mike, Wagon Wheel will convince Mutt and Jeff to talk to Mani and Fredi and make sure the DH is in by then. Whew so many nicknames
Good question. All of the nick names are included to prove to everyone in this site how EASY it is to get inside your head.
You should start by accepting how dumb you look with a name that you truly deserve, and then make ammebds or d
Amends or simply move on. The Mets are an embarrassment. What don’t you get about it?
Because you’ve seen him play so MANY GAMES …….
I’ve seen him play 26 games,.
Why is it a fan boy who says he’s seen him play 26 times (in actuality it is probably like 4) rates him far worse than the dudes who rate players professionally?
Pedro Alvarez and you’ve seen Alonso play how many games?
Pedro is WAY better at 1B than Alonso, Pedro stinks at 3B.
Trust me, Alvarez is the worst fielder I’ve ever seen. Even if Alonso isn’t a great defensive 1B, nobody is worse than Alvarez. Do I have to tell you about all the missed played balls, or all the errant throws to second Pedro had when he was moved to 1B?
So you’ve seen the equivalent of just a hair shy of 1/6 of a season. Do you really think that’s enough
I think that 1B is the Mets weakest link. Are Dominic Smith or Pete Alonso MLB caliber 1B?
You say you watched him play in 26 games- Ok- He had a .990% fielding percentage last year at Vegas. Carlos Santana led the League with a .992%
Not sure you actually saw him play.
Peter to Pete is an easy one, reminds me of the funny Mike to Giancarlo. Fausto Carmona jokes aside, anybody remember any other funny name tweaks after the player got past the rookie year?
Ian Oquendo/Snell.
BJ —> Melvin —> BJ
He told MLB Network his wife insisted on the BJ……some men are very fortunate…..
Lol
LMAO
LOL
He played like a BJ…a bad BJ
Scooter Gennett’s real name is Ryan, does that count?
I used to go to Mets Marlins games in Miami sit in the outfield after he changed his name and chant Michael over and over again. I would get others to join in. He would get visable angry. Good times.
We’ve all done foolish things, but to be proud of (allegedly) doing a foolish thing and then to brag about it on the Internet is really sad
I don’t think chanting Michael is that serious of an offense. If a big league ball player can’t take a little heckling he made the wrong career choice.
It would have been funny if he had tried this in a different era, when players like Ruth and Cobb would actually go into the stands to assault hecklers, or guys like Ted Williams would spit on them. Baseball was pretty wild west back in the first half of the last century
Dick/Richie Allen was called by two different first names.
BigFred….beat me by mere seconds…lol
Going back a ways ….Richie/Dick Allen. That was a media thing though, he never wanted to go by Richie.
I’ll correct myself here….”My mother didn’t name me “Richie”, the Phillies did.” …. Dick Allen on Twitter
https://twitter.com/DickAllen_15/status/1062818600610865154
David Arias –> David Ortiz
Leo Nunez –> Juan Carlos Oviedo
Joey Belle
Kendrys Morales was named Kendry
Carlos Matias->Carlos Martinez
I think they should go after Porcello next year. He’s a native NJ kid, whose favorite ball club was the Mets. They already have their studs, go after a good durable arm like Rick. He won’t break the bank after these last few years, and he’s an inning eater. Jmo.. wish the tigs would be willing to take him back, if not hope he goes back home.
Albert Belle went by Joey Belle in his amateur career
I love Wheeler, but he has a bad injury history. I think this year will really determine his worth.
If they really have Alonso up at the start of the season it would be absurd.
Assume he was the greatest rookie of all time, let’s say he’s a 15 WAR player. If he misses two weeks, that’s one win. Versus a full season of control.
You’re thinking far too statistically. This is WAR gone awry. One player can help get a rally going or single handedly win multiple games. Not having the best players in your lineup can easily cost your team multiple wins which can have a huge impact on both momentum and could cost you a playoff berth.
WAR doesn’t literally count the number of games that you helped win.
I agree with your argument that the extra year of control is more valuable than what the player can provide in those two weeks, but I disagree with using WAR as your argument
The Mets flatline the first half of the year it’s a total breakdown and rebuild. A Wheeler extension may have to happen during the season, if that.
Matt LeCroy = Matthew LeCroy
I have his baseball cards with both names.
I got doc and Dwight golden baseball cards too
Gooden*
Pete named after an old Nickelodeon show…
Correction on “Infielder T.J. Rivera, who missed the entire 2018 season” – is not true, he played 6 games in 2018 at AAA and A+.
Mikeyank55 is a bellend.
What a cute name toof. Enjoy your lonely season at Chitifield.
IF Wheeler replicates his 2nd half stats shown in the article, he’ll get a no brainer QO. Tough to say what that does to his market as 2020 will still be his age 30 season. Due to 2 years lost to injury his final arb year is only $6M which will bring his lifetime earnings to only under $14M.
Evoldi and Mikolas got 4 and $68, the former without a QO and 2 TJ’s, the latter as an extension starting next year. Doesn’t conversation start here, some escalators or even a vesting 5th.
I guess what ultimately happens with Keuchel will be of interest. Could he dream on a Corbin deal who is only a year older, I don’t think the Met’s get there themselves, they’d rather go there with Thor no? The Met’s can’t extend all 3 so isn’t this a game of musical chairs IF they all wish to remain in NY, who knows.
Is it me or do they Mets have quite a few later bloomers that go on to have good careers with other clubs? They really need better direction in that farm system.
agree . Historically they sign veterans instead of letting young guys play
Man, let Wheeler go. He smells like a guy who will be held up by glue. He gives you fifteen wins this year because it’s a free agent year and he’s motivated, grabs a fat contract, and then ride the DL like it’s a roller coaster for the next five seasons, giving you a random shutout to keep you enticed and frustrate the heck out of your team. Isn’t that what he’s done for the last five years? Don’t reward that.
The Wilson’s should stop acting like they don’t have the money to keep these young pitchers . This is NewYork not Kansas. If they don’t have the money because of their illegal activities with their friend Madoff then sell the team and stop jerking the fans around. Keep the good young pitchers they developed and don’t let them go off to another organization and come back to haunt the Mets.these young men r good and it will take years to replace them when they r gone.sign them or get out off the game u crooks.
(Wilpons) damn spellcheck
The Mets & many baseball writers announced Alonso’s request to drop the “”r” quite a few days ago.
trade vargas