Ever since the New York Mets signed Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello to one-year deals on the same week, some people have been assuming that the former would end up in the bullpen with the latter in the rotation. However, there will be a competition for two spots between them and Steven Matz. That’s the only certainty. Any additional stuff is just speculation at this point.
Wacha has been around for a long time, yet he is only 28. Last season was a bad one: he put up a negative -0.2 fWAR.
In 29 games (24 starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals, he was 6-7 in 126.2 innings with a 4.76 ERA. He had a 5.61 FIP, a 7.39 K/9 and an elevated 3.91 BB/9.
Yet Kevin Kernan of the New York Post believes he is one step closer to regain the form that made him an All-Star and a Cardinal postseason hero back in the day.
For starters, he is healthy. He has battled multiple injury issues over the years, most notably on his pitching shoulder. Last season, he suffered an oblique ailment.
Health will be the key for Wacha and the Mets
“It’s going to be interesting,’’ Wacha said Sundayto Kernan at Mets pre-camp. “I did some different stuff in the weight room and mechanical-wise I changed up some stuff that helps my delivery, just a little better motion, and I think that will definitely help.’’
“This spring feels a little different for sure. I feel very healthy, very strong. In 2018, I was knocked out with that oblique injury and that kind of carried over into the offseason when I was rehabbing that oblique all the way into the offseason heading into the 2019 spring training,’’ said Wacha. “It was nice to have a good offseason where I was fully healthy and fully recovered and I really got some good work in.”
Wacha is aware of the talent around him. Winning a spot won’t be easy, but he will let his talent do the talking. “My main focus is competing on the mound and throwing strikes,” he stated.
He recognizes the star-power in the Mets’ unit. “This staff is unbelievable. We got arms for days. It’s very cool. I’m very happy and excited to be over here to get to pitch alongside these guys and learn from them and see what they think on the mound.”