WHEELER DEAL MAY BE TOUGHER Zack to IL puts snag in Mets’ trade plans

The Mets have placed right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder fatigue, the team accounced Monday.

The move has been considered precautionary, according to SNY.

But more crucially, the move to the IL so close to the trade deadline jeopardizes the Mets’ chance of dealing Wheeler and getting back pieces equivalent to his worth when healthy.

Brodie Van Wagenen admitted last week that he had been in touch with a lot of teams about players with expiring contracts. One can reasonably assume Wheeler was one of the players mentioned in these talks.

“We have to face our reality, to some degree, about where we are in the standings,” Van Wagenen said about the approaching deadline. “We are going to be open-minded, we are going to be thoughtful and measured in terms of what we do as we approach the deadline, all with the eyes on trying to improve this club.”

But with Wheeler less than 100 percent, and on a contract that expires at the end of the season, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense for a team trying to make a deep run into the playoffs to give up too many valuable players in exchange.

Wheeler is 6-6 in 19 games started so far this season. The 29-year-old has pitched to the tune of a 4.69 ERA (62 earned runs over 119 innings) with 16 home runs, 34 batters walked and 130 strikeouts. In his last start against the Phillies on July 7, he gave up six runs on eight hits in just five innings pitched. It wasn’t exactly the type of game that established Wheeler as “trade bait.”

Regardless, there’s been speculation that the Yanks, Red Sox and Brewers could be potential landing spots for the hurler.

He will miss his scheduled start Tuesday against the Twins in Minnesota and will not be eligible to return from the IL until next week at the earliest. Lefty Steven Matz will likely start in his place.

Wheeler, however, may not see himself starting many more games for the Mets after his return this season if the team deals him before the July 31 deadline.