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Mets Agree To Sign Michael Wacha

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DECEMBER 15: Anthony DiComo of MLB.com has the breakdown on the incentives in Wacha’s contract. He’ll earn $500K for making 10, 14, and 18 starts, along with $500K for each start from 20-30. Finally, Wacha can earn $1.35MM worth of award bonuses. With $8.35MM worth of incentives, Wacha’s total earning potential for 2020 comes out to $11.35MM.

DECEMBER 11, 3:23pm: There’s a deal in place pending a physical, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (Twitter link). It guarantees $3MM, per Sherman (via Twitter), with up to $7MM in possible incentives.

3:09pm: The Mets are “working hard to finalize” a contract with righty Michael Wacha, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). If completed, it’ll be for a one-year term; financials have yet to be reported.

If this deal is wrapped up, Wacha would presumably round out the New York starting five. He’d also become the latest client of CAA — the former outfit of Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen — to join the New York organization.

It’s interesting to see Wacha heading in on a bounceback arrangement as Zack Wheeler departs with a huge contract. It wasn’t long ago that the former was seen as a major free agent target of the future, while the latter’s career was in limbo owing to health reasons.

Now, it’s Wacha who is trying to prove he can stay healthy and restore his former effectiveness. The former first-round pick has had some peaks to go with the valleys in recent years, but hasn’t looked like the budding young staff he was in 2013-15.

Last season, Wacha turned in a 4.76 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 over 126 2/3 innings. With balls flying out of the yard at a rate of 1.8 per nine, he was ultimately demoted to the bullpen. Wacha ended up averaging a career-low 93.4 mph with his fastball, though that’s only one tick off from his overall career average.

It’s tough to say just how much upside Wacha offers at this stage. He was able to stay on the mound for most of 2019 but hasn’t been as effective as he was before shoulder and back issues began to crop up. Statcast numbers don’t offer much in the way of encouragement; if anything, they suggest his strong ’18 output (3.20 ERA in 84 1/3 innings) was based upon some good fortune (.249 BABIP-against, .286 wOBA vs. .350 xwOBA). Still, it’s awfully tempting to dream on a powerhouse Mets rotation if Wacha and Steven Matz are able to turn in healthy and productive campaigns.

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Comments

    • Recency bias? Last years HR/9 was obviously an aberration compared to his career numbers.

      He’s had 3 seasons with a sub 3.4 era.

      3

      • Talk about nicking, chipping, and destroying the truth. Wacha hasn’t had an ERA below 3.4 in 85+ innings since 2015, and when he lucked out in 2018, with a 3.20 ERA in 84 innings, his FIP was over a run higher. He’s a bad pitcher with few prospects of reversal. The Mets signed him because they’re about out of money, and so they’re piddling away a few million here and there instead of having the guts to put it all in the starting pitching basket, then trusting their judgment on backups and fringe relievers.

    • Fact is when he’s healthy he’s way better than Zack Wheeler. He can compete. You might have got a diamond. You just won’t know until he pitches.

      1

      • Solid signing….

        Agree that when healthy and executing, Wacha is far better then Wheeler.

        But the problem is that the Mets fired the best pitching coach they had in years in Eiland. Jeremy Hefner has no real track record to go by. So we’ll see if he can do something with Wacha that the Cardinals couldn’t.

        And you’re so right about the compete part. Wheeler is a stuff guy. If he has it that day he’s fine. If not, he goes along till he’s pulled. Doesn’t seem able to reach down, challenge hitters, and bull his way to a W. Wacha on the other hand, has heart.

        • Eiland was their best pitching coach in years? The staff was a mess for the first half of the season until the “Vulture” Phil Regan took over. Regan’s 82, so it was always likely to be an interim move.

          2

        • No Way he is better than Wheeler.

          OK it is this simple; look at reality Wheeler signed for $118 Million
          Wacha was demoted and let go and only picked up because he is a former client of the Met’s GM.

          Wheeler played for a lousy manager and threw to one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball in Ramos who could not call a game; even Thor complained about Ramos.

          How much is Wacha worth.

          If and when….

          If the dog didn’t stop to take a crap he would of caught the rabbit.

          2

        • Hey Vandal-there’s a problem with your when; namely when has he pitched more than 110 innings?
          Here’s another when; like when will the Wilpon’s catch on to Brody continuing to support players that supported his agency?

      • WHATT?!?! I’m a Mets fan and that’s blatantly wrong.

        Wheelers 2018 2nd half – 1.7 era, .8 whip, .179 avg against

        Wacha has never come close to those numbers.

        Wheeler strikes out batters at a much higher clip. Wheeler walks fewer batters. Wheeler gives up fewer HR. Every metric is in Wheelers favor.

        5

        • I agree that wheeler has been better than wacha but to use second half numbers from a few seasons ago is not a great argument

      • Diamond, what a joke!
        Not even cubic zarconia.

        Why does everyone put in these qualifying statements like he had a down year or when he’s healthy?

        He sucks and that is the facts; the Cards know what they are doing..

        The Met’s GM Van Lunchwagon just wants to pay off his former clients.

        4

        • For all of 3 million and an extremely team friendly contract?

          Oh man…what a hookup. .

          1

        • Exactly. The money the Cards save there, plus not resigning Ozuna? Lets them fish in the free-agent, or trade, market for another starting pitcher. And Mo had better fish!

          1

        • Because players careers often go up and down. At any down point it is easy to just say a player “sucks” and call it a day but you’ll find yourself consistently surprised When players bounce back and signings like this pay off

          1

        • No – he has back injuries. He sucks, He is toast. This is a waste of money and MLB should be considering an investigation into Brody Broken Wagon and his sweetheart deals for exclients.

        • I agree 100% Van Lunchwagon should be investigated by MLB for trying to create favor.

          Motive when new ownership takes over he will be gone and have to resume is agent job; what better way than to create favor with former clients with sweetheart deals!

          None of his deals have benefited the Mets; he gained favor with ownership in Seattle by taking Cano and 120 million off their books that he put on while giving up huge young talent.

          Secondly up and down is one thing but injuries are for real!

      • Fact is, when someone makes a crazy comment like that, it makes sense not to even argue it.

        1

      • Wacha has nowhere near the upside of Wheeler. Please don’t be silly. I love the signing for the Mets, but Wacha has been on the decline.

        1

    • Yeah but he is another Van Lunchwagon client; that’s all that matters.
      He doesn’t care bout the Mets.

    • I wouldn’t say the guy stinks. I’ve seen a really good Wacha and a really bad Wacha. His pitches have a lot of movement he’s just lost command. I’d hoped he’d find it again as a Cardinal but maybe he will as Met with a new pitching coach and change of scenery. He’s a nice rebound candidate for the price

  4. IDK but he was either decent or batting practice last season. I like Wacha, but he needs to fix something.

    1

    • It’s his weird shoulder thing. He’s got some condition that can’t be fixed where something grinds together that shouldn’t be, so he just grits his teeth and pitches through the pain it causes. Some days it works, some days it clearly doesn’t.

      1

      • He gets gets something like stress fractures in his shoulder from time to time. When’s he on, he’s great but usually he isn’t.

        1

      • I did not know this and if it’s true I dont know why the hell BVW would give him even close to $9M

        2

        • Not guaranteed. It’s a $3M base with a possible $7M in incentives if conditions are met.

          2

        • Because BVW just wants to pay off his former clients so when his Mets gig ends he can build up some favor

          1

        • 3 million guaranteed on an extremely team friendly contract.

          Try a new narrative.

        • That very crucial detail hadnt been announced when I posted. Makes sense now. Almost got me tho you rascal

        • can you stop with the stupid asinine comments, do you really believe that or are you you just this stupid?

  6. I think he’ll end up being like Pomeranz and put in the bullpen, its probably best for him at this stage and move Lugo back into the rotation

    1

    • He’s 28 and 2018 was a pretty good season. You’re writing him off when his HR/9 was double his career average?

      1

    • I agree, after watching him in St. Louis and seeing the well above average stuff he has (especially his changeup), I think he could be a fairly dominant bullpen piece. The reduced innings and pitch count per outing would in theory help his shoulder flare ups as well. I’m surprised the Cards never seriously considered moving him in full time.

  9. It is so difficult to be a Mets fan in a city where the Yankees are the number one team. Wacha might fit in as a number 5 but they still need another starting pitcher as they have little to no depth. But man, this will not excite anyone as hie is barely mediocre.

    2

    • #4 ceiling. I don’t really understand what the Mets/BWV are doing. As a Yankees fan, it’ll be great to see another subway WS.

      • Haha. Ain’t happening anytime soon. Your Yanks obviously should be favorites for the next few years but don’t hold your breath on the Mets.

      • Van Lunchwagon is just paying off his former clients.
        MLB should investigate this!

        Born and raised in NY; Mets fan.

        Congrats on Yankees and Cole

        Real organization

        1

    • Disagree. I love this signing.

      Barely mediocre? He’s had 3 seasons with a sub 3.4 era, as recently as 2018.

      2019 was an aberration with his HR/9 over double his career average.

      You wanna sign another MLB level starter and have him do what? Sit on the bench until we need him?

      • Once again; why is aberration; anomaly, bad year, and if he is healthy, etc.
        Sorry but we live in the real world and last year was real.

        Stop looking in the past, a car was nice to buy too before it was totaled in an accident.

      • You really need to be brain dead as a Mets fan not to understand that back injuries END careers.

        Ever hear of this guy called David Wright?

  13. I think you people need to get a life. Trolling on the internet is called trollitis.

    2

  14. According to his stats he’s lights out in the following conditions:
    1) Retractable Domed Stadiums
    2) If you score 6 or more runs for him.
    3) If Lance Barksdale or Sam Holbrook are umpiring.

    2

    • Who is our 5 starter? Lugo? Great – now who is our 8th/9th inning guy?

      2

    • You’re clearly not familiar with who the Mets had for SP options beyond their front 4, lol.

      1

  17. “It’s expected to come in below the $9MM contract inked recently by Kevin Gausman, with incentives available that could bring it close to that value”

    I don’t consider Gausman to be any better and Porcello has been asking for even more money and is probably not any better either at this point. Mets actually did a decent job.

    6

  19. Not a bad pickup. Worth a one year flyer. Could be junk or an ace, depending on if they can fix him.

    3

  22. Does this mean Gsellman and Lugo stay in the bullpen? I disagree with trying to change Lugo back into a starter simply for the fact that – “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.’ Gsellman on the other hand should give starting another shot. At this point, DeGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman, Matz, Wacha is what they are going with. Is that good enough?

    • I like Lugo in the bullpen, but the thing is his arm issues……

      The fact that he can’t pitch 3 games in a row, and oftentimes not 2 games in a row, makes it very difficult for the manager. As Franona has said – the most difficult aspect of managing is running a bullpen. A guy like Lugo as your top or 2nd option out of the pen makes managing the pen even more difficult. It’s one thing to say that your top guy had a bad game. It’s another to say that you can’t use him that day, so figure out who’s left and how much they’ve worked recently….and then figure out the potential matchups for that days game from there – at which time you’re on defense doing the best you can with what you have, instead of on offense where you’re using your strength against the opposing team.

      If Lugo starts then he and the manager know that he’s out there every 5 games, and there’s no problem.

  23. This is Wheeler’s replacement? Ugh he’s been worth two war combined in the last four years and is injury prone. Why not sign Wood or Gausman?

    2

    • Stroman has been wheeler’s replacement all along, he is the replacement for the flexens of the world they trotted out there last year. This is a low risk move with a slim potential for a high reward

      1

  24. Congrats to Wacha. He will now have Wacha Wacha Wacha nights dedicated to him. He will now be considered an Ace pitcher now that he’s with the Mets, since they have “5 Aces”.

    1

      • Oh yeah, the Mets are definitely a franchise to be jealous of.

        BTW, is it me, but isn’t it odd that a team that claims it’s going to contend, that plays in a big market, is trying to make low-risk/high-reward moves? That seems like something that rebuilding teams in small markets do.

        Yeah, plenty to be jealous about the Mets for. It must the years of proven competence and championship success from the many great GMs from Steve Phillips to now, along with every great manager after Bobby Valentine. Definitely a model franchise.

        • Go Marlins Fan

          Met’s owners and GM suck and I am a long time Met’s fan

  25. I wanted the Pirates to sign him, would have been a perfect fit. Offer 8M and trade him at the deadline possibly if he does well. I think I like his upside more than Porcello who’s just an innings eater aside from that one wild season.

    1

  26. I’m not huge on this. They really needed a dependable 5th starter to soak up innings, and Wacha’s injury history doesn’t line up with that role. Anything is better than Walker Lockett though.

    2

  28. Decent gamble here. Low guarantee. Seems a little early in the process to settle for a gamble, though.

    1

    • 3mm + 7mm in incentives is a deal for depth – if he pitches like he did last year he won’t make the incentives and if he doesn’t he could be a great value.@ 10 for a starter, even if he is a 4th or 5th guy

  29. Not bad for a 5th starter at that price hopefully he comes back to his old self lol

    1

    • Yeah I can see the headlines in NY media

      Yankees ink Cole or Mets get Wacka Mole!

      What do you think will win?

      1

  31. Great price for him. This will allow him to try and prove himself in order to maintain a career in the MLB.

    1

  32. 3 million nothing worse case he is a pen arm best case he makes all his marks and gets 7 mill.

  35. Brodie is the most sentimental GM in baseball. Or he’s playing some sort of deep con game where his former players are going to cut him a big check once the Mets fire him.

    1

  36. Very good low risk/high reward signing to be the 5th starter.

    1

  37. Mets have officialy signed Wacha and Marte, for Nimmo and Alvarez[Marte]
    Not bad

    • What site does it say that the Mets made the Marte trade I don’t see it ?

      1

  38. I remember 2013-15, when Wacha was the Cardinals’ #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 starter.

  39. How does Gausman get 9 million but Wacha only gets 3? They seem like they’re in very similar positions.

    1

  41. platooning Resnick and Marte in center and Wacha is better than Porcello,
    Decent chance of playoffs now.

  42. This a great deal. Extremely low risk. Solid chance he’s a serviceable #5 with the upside for more.

        • Please don’t tell me they were stupid enough to sign Marte?

          What a bad freaken move!

          Remember Josh Harrison who BVW wanted to trade for last year?
          He is only good for a minor league invite this year!

          That was the straw that broke my 50 year Met’s fans back.
          Time to go out and buy a Yankee hat; I can’t take that clown BVW anymore; too painful!

  46. Solid deal for the money. No-lose situation for the Mets. This could turn out to be a terrific signing.

  47. So the Tigers could have gotten this guy for about 1/2 of what Al paid those clowns last season?

  48. So excited to see another pitcher that the Blue Jays are “interested” in sign with another team. Not that in itself that Wacha or any of the other pitchers that have been “linked” to the Jays are a huge answer, but at least could be an improvement over last years staff?

    The Blue Jays big splash this year is signing a new trainer for the team!

    Mercy….I can’t wait for Shapiro and Atkins to be gone! Please!!!

  50. That’s a bargain for the Mets, solid addition fersure. I could see Wacha having a really good season pitching in that ballpark and cashing in on a multi-year deal next offseason. They arguably have the best rotation in the NL right now. This is shaping up to be a helluva race in the NL East in 2020. Even the Marlins should be better.

    2

  52. yes sir

    de Grom
    Sndy
    Stroman
    Matz
    Wacha

    Position players
    McNeil
    Alonso
    Ramos
    Marte
    Cano
    Rosario
    Conforto
    davis

  53. Yankees get Cole in their stocking, Mets get Waca, doesn’t seem fair.
    #LGFM

    3

    • Mets still have degrom who until proven otherwise is the best pitcher in NY

      1

  54. Almost unbelievable how little Wacha was guaranteed in the market this offseason. With the deals back end guys have been getting this is an absolute bargain for the Mets. No guarantee he bounces back but the risk is so minimal at this price it makes too much sense not to

    5

  55. Wacha did do well in his 1st couple of seasons, but once the league figured wacha out, its batting practice and wacha never adjusted or lost a tick on the pitches.

  56. 3 mil. That’s a nice sign on a guy who was good not too long by ago.

    • Nice sign? Haha he stinks so how is it nice? He was good a long time ago and he has stunk not too long ago and now.

  57. Not a bad signing if he is healthy. He’s a number 5 on this team. Worse case scenario maybe he and Gsellman or Lugo flip roles. With a 26 man roster next year, it’s not terrible to have guys like this on the 40 man. The Mets will still sign s few more if not even make s trade with Nimmo and Smith going the other way.

  59. At 3MM guaranteed it’s a fine signing, even if hardly exciting. Plenty of comparable pitchers have received much more guaranteed on their one-year deals in the recent past.

  63. Wow are Mets fans pathetic. All they do is cry about the team not spending, then they go dumpster diving again and celebrate by talking about what great “value” they got.

    Lol

    Meanwhile everyone in their division except the marlins are making much bigger moves, and all have better farm systems.

    Is it their goal to maybe finish in third and waste degroms whole career?

    Van waggy is in so far over his head.

    • I’d rather have Wacha for $3 million than Wheeler for $100 million.

      1

    • GMs need to do what Andre Dawsom did with the cubs. When he basically got a blank contract and was paid for his performance. So if someone like Mike Trout hits .360/.800/.750 55 Home Runs with 135rbi and 100 runs scored 62 doubles and 15 triples He’d get 25mil
      Gerrit Cole goes 24-2 with a sub 2 era 10 complete game shutouts 2 no hitters (one a perfect game) and randomly in an NL park hits a game winning Homerun and gets the save as well. (Long Extra innings game. That would get 25-30 Mil for the year

      2

  67. At least Cardinals fans can rest easy and he’ll never help a team win a pennant again.

    1

  68. Clever contract cuz he may be the long man for parts of the season and not reach any of those start totals

    • Amazing that they already have a pic of him in a Mets uniform. Must be from some parallel universe where he’s already pitched for the Mets (and Captain Kirk is a bad guy and Spock has a beard).

  70. I like this contract dynamic. Let him go out there and EARN millions based on performance.

  71. Either Matz or Wacha goes to the pen — Porcello as 5th starter — my guess is Wacha as long man — still need another LH in the pen

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