Mets right-hander and prime trade candidate Zack Wheeler went on the injured list Monday with shoulder fatigue – an issue that may damage or destroy his value. However, if Wheeler makes it back in the next couple weeks, the Rays could be among the teams competing for him around the July 31 trade deadline. They’ve asked about Wheeler, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Tampa Bay’s rotation currently has a notable omission of its own in righty Tyler Glasnow, who has been down since the beginning of May with a flexor strain. Rays manager Kevin Cash announced Monday that Glasnow may not make it back this season, which could intensify their efforts to acquire pitching before the deadline.
At 56-40, two games up on the American League’s No. 1 wild-card spot and five behind the AL East-leading Yankees, the Rays are in position to buy. The success the Rays have achieved this year is all the more impressive when considering their dearth of traditional starters. Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Yonny Chirinos are all the team has right now in that regard, though Brendan McKay has performed well in the first three starts of his career and could return from Triple-A Durham soon.
In acquiring Wheeler, the low-budget Rays would be getting one of baseball’s hardest-throwing starters on a salary even they could afford ($5.975MM). But Wheeler’s not under control past 2019, which would make him a pure rental for Tampa Bay, and has had a difficult time preventing runs this year.
In spite of his 97 mph-plus fastball, the 29-year-old Wheeler has pitched to a below-average 4.69 ERA across 119 innings. While a subpar Mets defense has undermined Wheeler’s efforts, he has further hindered his cause by yielding home runs on a career-worst 13.7 percent of fly balls. FIP (3.66), xFIP (3.84), SIERA (3.99) and fWAR (2.6) all suggest Wheeler has deserved far better this season, though, and his 9.83 K/9 against 2.57 BB/9 presents another reason for bullishness. Of course, if Wheeler’s still out of commission by the deadline, his production could prove to be meaningless to the Rays and other July buyers.
Why is there so much interest in wheeler? He isnt good. It seems every year a pitcher who is extremely overrated gets talked about and traded who just isnt good.
He’s a good option for a #3-4 starter. He’s definitely not someone you want starting a wild card game right now though. A team with a good bullpen like the Rays might not need him to eat a ton of innings.
I believe I read that the Rays bullpen has logged some of the highest innings so far this year and using the “opener” doesn’t help.
Come playoff time, that gassed bullpen will definitely hurt.
You think he’s a good #3-4 starter, but don’t want him to start a wildcard game??
Then why trade assets for him?
Well the guy is suggesting you shouldn’t trade assets for him, so why the question?
That’s just a completely stupid comment Rocky but it’s par for the course. The Rays use an opener more than any team in baseball so it’s really no surprise they have the most innings pitched. Considering every time Jalen Beeks or Ryan Yarbrough pitch 4-5-6 innings after an opener it counts as relief innings.
A team wants an ace to start the wild card game that’s why. No team wants their 3 starting that game
This is so spot on jbigz12, too funny bro.
Your third sentence answers your first one.
He isn’t good? Your name indicates that you are a Padres fan. The Friars keep asking about Syndergaard who has the same ERA as Wheeler and has been just as bad. However, Wheeler has the potential to be a great pitcher, look at his last 20 starts last year, his numbers are better than deGrom’s during that stretch. The Mets have also been through a pitching coach change this year and some bad overall managing. Wheeler is still a very solid pitcher with tons of upside, the Rays, or anyone for that matter, will become a better staff with him in it
Syndergaard has had had more success than Wheeler will ever have and has been more consistent than Wheeler. This is Syndergaards first bad year while this is Wheelers second. I’d much rather take a gamble on the 26 year old Noah than the 29 year old inconsistent injury prone Wheeler
this is a terrible take.. Wheeler’s xFIP has been under 4 this season and last… granted this season he’s struggled with lefties but he has Elite numbers against right-handed hitters… if he played in the Rays park, indoors… he’d ball out
Citi field is already a pitchers park. I really dont think having him play at the trop would be what makes him better. I’d bet that the Rays pitching coaches would make him perform better rather than moving him from one pitchers park to the next
Don’t worry the Mets will lose all value for players they should have traded this past offseason when they should have rebuild instead of making that Cano trade.
I hope the Yankees do not trade for Wheeler or anyone else. Severino and Bettances will be back in September. Do not trade the future for maybe something today. Do not make a move!
Wheeler isn’t going to require the Yankees to mortgage the future. The question for me would be is he better than CC or Happ? I’d take him over either one of them. I think he could realistically be had for 2 of the Yankees near ML ready arms. Let’s say Chance Adams and Nick Nelson.The Mets are desperately thin as far as upper level pitching prospects go.
I’m personally very high on Wheeler and think a more analytically inclined FO could unlock more out of him. If other GMS are thinking that I suppose that could raise his price higher. My personal feelings are that Brodie won’t target any low minor guys as the key part of the return because he wants this turned around quick.
I agree with this. You could even throw in someone like Feyereisen, Kriske or Lane. Many might say who wants these guys? if you look at their numbers they are all very good and Yankees have one of the best if not the best track record of producing closers/ high end relievers in baseball.
He went on the DL at an awful time. He’s coming off a bad start and there’s no guarantee he gets more than 1 by the deadline. Eovaldi was dealt for Jaylen Beeks last year. Not a great return but I’d say he’s comparable to a Chance Adams/Nick Nelson combo. That worked out phenomenally for Boston. Wheeler has that same kind of upside. (I think he’s a better pitcher long term.)
Now, If Wheeler comes back strong and makes 2-3 great starts or something I think that package gets a lot heavier. I’d pay more if it came to it and take a gamble on him. I could see perhaps an Abreu being the headliner. I think he’s destined for the bullpen anyway. Mets definitely need reliever prospects though. It’ll be interesting to see what Wheeler’s market truly is coming off this.
And ill say that if the best return is a Nelson and Adams type package they may roll the dice and QO Wheeler instead. Given that the Mets are the Mets it’s tough to see them doing that. You’d have to weigh the pros and cons of that because he could certainly turn it on in the second half for them. Though dealing Wheeler obviously doesn’t exclude them from pulling a Jeurys Familia and bringing him back in a few months either.
Who have the Yankees produced in their pen besides Betances?
He doesn’t have time for that. With only the July 31 deadline now, even if she stays on the IL for the minimum, he’ll get 1 start when he comes back. It’s very possible he won’t even come back before the deadline.
David Robertson, Shane Greene, Chad Green, Mark Melancon and of course Betances.
I wouldn’t count Melancon and especially Greene, considering he was a starter his entire time in their organization and flourished after the trade to the Tigers.
He could make a max of 2 before the deadline. Not 3, though. 2 good starts would be enough to rebuild his value but that is up in the air at this point.
Chad green is from the tigers
And melancon and Robertson are how old? Even Betances has been around for over 5 years they haven’t produced anyone recently
While it is hard to trust anything coming from the Mets, they said it was precautionary and they back dated it, so he’ll miss the minimum amount of time. It’s literally the worst time to get hurt (with non post-trade deadline time to mess with the waiver wire), which is of course what happened to the Mets.
David Robertson, Shane Greene, tommy kahnle, arodis vizcaino,
Melancon years ago, type clippard, years ago. . Those are just the ones that have had success outside the yankee uniform.
Why wouldn’t you count melancon. He got that massive contract for a reason. And being converted isn’t the Yankees fault . He was still their farm hand. Chad green is debatable but just like Shane Greene. They made him a reliever. Before this year he was one of the best I. The game and has been great the last month, month and. Half this year
You could say Jonathan holder before his struggles this year. He’ll turn it around .
James pazos has a really good year in 2018 as well
Nick Goody as well
They didn’t perform for them. The poster said they’ve been successful at developing relief pitchers. It appears to me the other teams are what tapped into those pitchers.
I watch him every 5th day the guy throws as Hard as deGROM & is a VICTIM OF LOUSY DEFENSE….
Yeah im sure the HR’s he gives up is due to the defense.
1.2HR/9
“In spite of his 97 mph-plus fastball, the 29-year-old Wheeler has pitched to a below-average 4.69 ERA across 119 innings.”
…Because he’s just a NO TALENT BUM who doesn’t know how to pitch, what to throw or when to throw it, plus his command and control are both TERRIBLE!
…When your defense sucks and you throw 97/98/99, you should just be wiffing almost everyone, he doesn’t, cause he sucks!
Over-rated, under-skilled and at 29 he doesn’t really have many year left to get his terrible act together, since most hurlers seem to become washed, done and gone by only age 32 nowadays!
Plus, Wheeler is a no dealer as he can NEVER stay healthy! Any team that decides to wste their time andmoney taking him should know he wont last long before yet another I.L. visit!
The bum has NEVER stayed off the I.L. through even ONE season in his career!
He’s soft, weak and lame!
Let him go wash cars or wax bowling alley’s for a living and let him take that NEVER WAS over rated LOSER Homer Bailey with him!
I’m sick of hearing about over-rated BUMS!
The NY Mess would be smart to unload them all!
Wheelsflat, de Bumm, Mutz and Cindygarden!
NONE of them ever seem to know how to pitch once a runner gets on Vs. them, oh, it’s true, they get all flustered than start giving up LOOOONG homers!
They are all soft crybaby snowflakes and have all had their one peak year and won’t ever have another one, dump ’em all now and start from scratch with some new talent!
Sry NY Mess fans, it’s true, just suck it up and accept facts!
If ANY of the Mess’ rotation were any good, they wouldn’t be running towards the basement faster than they ever raced to 1st place!
If being bad was good, the Mess would be #1! They got manhandled by the Reds!
Man, that’s when you know your team blowz!
I just don’t get why their entire coaching staff hasn’t been axed and when is this egomanic moron Van Wagonwheel going to get canned?
Mess pitching has been AWFUL, so fire the pitching coach!
Mess hitting has been AWFUL, so fire the hitting coach!
Or at least bring in SOMEONE who has the ability to teach these BUMS how to take a pitch and quit swinging at everything in the dirt or way over their heads!
Years ago, you’d get benched or sent down for playing as badly as many players are now!
Sick of seeing sub .200 LOSER BUMS on MLB rosters!
It’s getting too hard for me to watch a game anymore, due to all the UNDESERVING of a roster spot bums there are!
WILPONZI
Imagine if you put that much effort into something worthwhile
Don’t have a job I take it?
While the Wilpons suck and the Mets have been a dumpster fire, the above rant has little to do with actual facts when it comes to player performance, so uhm…yeah…good luck with that. No significant changes will come until they get rid of their horrible ownership, so I expect their incompetence to continue for years/decades.
As a Mets fan I would do Wheeler for Adams and Feyereisen or Loiasiga
As a mets fan you should find a new team. End the Wilpon’s strangle of the franchise by refusing to buy tickets and watch SNY.
The guy just went to the DL with a shoulder problem.
At this point Vargas might net more in a trade, and that’s next to nothing.
Should of already traded him but Brodie is incompetent.
The team is doomed for the next decade.
Can someone explain like I’m 5 why should fatigue would destroy his value? If it’s just fatigue, wouldn’t he be fine after a couple of weeks of rest? So if he’s out now, but back in time to help a team in August and September, what’s the big deal?
Any shoulder problem for a rental starting pitcher is a gigantic red flag. He got lit up in his last start and now he gets placed on the IL. How can you justify giving up a very good prospect for a guy who may not come back healthy? In my opinion if he doesn’t make a start before the deadline his value is going to be low.
I think Caleb Smith would be a perfect addition in Tampa Bay.
Yeah I don’t know about that. He has a HR problem in Miami and you’re going to be paying a premium for his years of control. I’d rather pay a cheaper price for Wheeler and roll the dice on him. Smith moving from the NLE to ALE stadiums w a HR problem scares me. He’s gotten hit hard on the road
Any chance the Mets did this to limit his innings in a thought process that he will be back and showcase two starts and teams will be happy he is at “only” 130 innings at that point. Strong arm for a playoff push which might require less fatigued arms? Chances are the Mets aren’t smart enough to actually be doing this but the thought crossed my mind. Worse case they don’t trade him, qualify him, someone will sign him for 3 years $45 mil and Mets get a late first or early second round pick which is likely more than what you could theoretically get for him in minor league prospects this year in a trade.
I don’t know how a fake shoulder fatigue injury would make a team happier than 1 additional pre deadline start. That just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Putting him on the DL w any sort of shoulder issue isn’t good for a players value