Former New York Met, Zack Wheeler spoke to the media about his 2020 expectations and got his last word in on his Mets tenure. After Wheeler denied the qualifying offer the Mets never called back when. Wheeler was not surprised about it and he made it known.
Zack Wheeler told @GJoyce9 of The Post he’s not surprised he never heard back from the Mets last December before signing his new contract. Why wasn’t he surprised? “Because it’s them,” he said. “It’s how they roll.”
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) February 13, 2020
Yes, we know the Wilpons are cheap, but its another thing when an overpaid pitcher calls them out for their cheapness. Wheeler is not worthy of a five-year/$118 million deal that the Phillies handed him, despite the success he had with the Mets. He had a 3.77 ERA over his five-seasons but missed two critical years due to his recovery from Tommy John Surgery. Those were two seasons where the Mets made the playoffs.
Back-Up The Talk
Wheeler has Cy Young aspirations but has never eclipsed the 200 inning mark in his career. It has been six years since a pitcher with less than 200 won the award. When Clayton Kershaw won in 2014, he only missed 200 innings by five outs and had a remarkable 1.77 ERA. There is no doubt Wheeler is talented, but his inconsistency to put his talent together for an entire season keeps him as an expensive 2-3 option in the rotation.
If Wheeler had the talent of Jacob deGrom, then the Mets would have thrown the cash his way. Both Wheeler and the organization knew it was an unlikely scenario for him to stay even though they both had an interest. The Mets acquisition of Marcus Stroman all but guaranteed they were moving on from Wheeler. Though still in February, the comments indeed start the fire of a renewed Mets/Phillies rivalry.