The Mets extended a qualifying offer to Zack Wheeler for the 2020 season worth 17.8 million dollars.
Wheeler is expected to decline that qualifying offer and test free agency.
I would love to keep this rotation intact and keep Zack Wheeler in Queens. However, pretty soon I believe that we’ll be discussing his eventual replacement.
Personally, I think that Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole are pipe dreams. The Mets payroll obligations for 2020 currently stand at about 175 million. One or two conservative to medium sized signings, and we’re approaching luxury tax territory.
Hey, stranger things have happened, but keep in mind, the Mets also need to essentially construct an entire bullpen.
I feel like that is a good segue towards our next topic of discussion…
DO NOT REPLACE ZACK WHEELER WITH SETH LUGO OR ROBERT GSELLMAN.
Sorry, but I just don’t get Mets fans sometimes. The Mets had a bullpen worse than the Marlins last year, and fans want to take Seth Lugo out of it. The man has a torn UCL and was the only consistently reliable option out of the bullpen in 2019!
I usually walk in the opposite direction of these discussions so I can’t really tell you the reasoning behind Lugo to the rotation. But, as someone who does his best to avoid talking about such matters, you can imagine my dismay over Brodie Van Wagenen’s quotes yesterday.
Van Wagenen said that adding to the starting rotation is a priority for the 2020 season. After that, he mentioned how Lugo and/or Gsellman might be potential replacements for Zack Wheeler.
I just don’t like it. Lugo has become our most (only) reliable bullpen option, and one of the best relievers in baseball. Robert Gsellman has not been reliable since 2016.
I don’t want to put too much stock into what our GM said yesterday, but if this is his idea of being “creative,” well, it sucks. While we’re on the topic, using the word “creative” when asked about payroll scares the absolute hell out of me.
ALSO DO NOT REPLACE ZACK WHEELER WITH ANY OF THESE PITCHERS.
Homer Bailey
Michael Pineda
Kyle Gibson
Cole Hamels
Adam Wainwright
Tanner Roark
Wade Miley
Brett Anderson
Iván Nova
Martín Pérez
Andrew Cashner
Jason Vargas
Rick Porcello
Jordan Lyles
Gio Gonzalez
Rich Hill
Matt Moore
Clay Buchholz
Tyson Ross
Félix Hernández
Jhoulys Chacín
Jeremy Hellickson
Odrisamer Despaigne
Michael Wacha
Edinson Vólquez
Marco Estrada
Shelby Miller
Clayton Richard
Drew Smyly
Wade LeBlanc
Matt Harvey
Héctor Noesi
Ervin Santana
Ross Detwiler
Trevor Cahill
Derek Holland
Edwin Jackson
VERDICT
Bring back Wheeler.
Maybe he accepts the qualifying offer. If not I think he’ll accept a four year deal. Maybe even three with an option.
If that doesn’t work…
Grab your balls. Or your checkbook.